Back in 2018, a tantalising bout between Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz was announced as the co-headliner of the UFC’s annual November event in Madison Square Garden but a hip injury suffered in the lead-in to the fight by Poirier forced the cancellation of the bout.
Diaz would, of course, return to fight Anthony Pettis and Jorge Masvidal last year, winning the first and losing the second, and Poirier has spoken of what exactly he thinks would have happened had his fight with the Stockton man gone ahead.
Responding to a fan question on Twitter, Poirier stated in no uncertain terms that he would knock Diaz out should they ever set foot on the same canvas.
I see me knocking him out https://t.co/bPVvpFe1OL
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) January 5, 2020
Now, there is little surprise that Fighter A says that he will knock out Fighter B in a hypothetical matchup but it is worth noting that the famously durable Diaz has only lost by TKO twice — once via a headkick courtesy of Josh Thomson back in 2013 and more recently via doctor’s stoppage in the ‘BMF’ main event opposite Masvidal in New York in August.
Poirier further addressed the situation last year with a series of tweets explaining precisely what led to the crumbling of his fight with Diaz.
He wanted it he just couldn’t come to terms with ufc. They offered us the main event at msg but he would only agree if it was on his terms. I was tired of playing games with the guy and that’s when i decided to address a injury I had been dealing with. Now you all know#facts https://t.co/OU50fYP0pB
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) October 28, 2019
And thats the whole truth with me and Nate situation ….also I jumped the gun when news came out that he failed a test. He’s always been a guy who pushed for clean eating and clean sport. I shouldn’t have. Doesn’t change the fact that I still want to beat his ass
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) October 28, 2019
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