Fresh off his Lightweight Championship loss at UFC 269, Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier is looking to get things cooking again. And who better than Stockton’s Finest? Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier were supposed to fight back in 2018, but things fell through, and we never got it. But this is 2022. Lots of new possibilities on the horizon and what better way to get the UFC’s most stacked division running with the new year? Dustin Poirier recently allegedly agreed to a fight with the Stockton Slugger but that hasn’t amounted to anything yet, and it might not for a bit. Poirier is still only a few weeks off his last fight, and anything that might happen soon would be on rather short-notice but that doesn’t seem to phase The Diamond. As for Nate Diaz, we all know he’ll take a super short-notice fight; it’s one of the things that makes him who he is. Either way, this is gonna absolutely incredible if it happens.
*Insert Conor McGregor*
I know what some may say. “He’s only won one fight in five years and it wasn’t even against a top contender. He hasn’t won a fight at Lightweight since he defeated Eddie Alvarez in 2016. He’s not hungry anymore. He’s not the same Conor.” Yah Yah Yah. That may all be 100% true, but it doesn’t mean he can’t still be great in today’s age. He’s still on the mend since he broke his leg at UFC 264. And he’ll definitely need a good win or two before his name is brought up in the conversation for a chance at Oliveira’s 155lb belt, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility. His drawing power is too insane not to get another chance at the Lightweight Championship. And we know what he is capable of inside the octagon. It’s whether he gets that title-shot prematurely or not, that’s the real question.
*Insert Justin Gaethje*
This guy obviously deserves a shot at the Lightweight Championship, and he has a right to be upset at anyone who passes him for that chance. Unfortunately for him, we’ve seen fighters get premature chances at the title over more deserving fighters. You can call it star power, drawing power or even Dana White privilege. But however you slice it, it is what it is. The guy is a killer. Give him his shot.
*Insert Islam Makhachev & Beniel Dariush*
Now we’re getting somewhere. This is gonna be a fight that hopefully gives us a better picture of what the Lightweight Championship contender situation will look like later this year. Both Dariush and Makhachev are coming off big wins. Dariush won a dominant affair against Tony Ferguson back in May, proving he can be a real threat to the 155lb division. Makhachev cruised right through 2021, winning all three of his fights by submission. Now we get the chance to see how Dariush’s slick grappling will fare against the Russian’s smothering sambo background. Dariush has no problem waging war on his feet, and I think that’ll be interesting to see how Makhachev prepares. I feel like this could easily be a 2nd round submission victory, or it could go the distance in a grueling affair. Either would be appropriate, and both would result in a great fight. Get your popcorn ready. February 26th.
*Insert Charles Oliveira*
Recent off his first title defense, Do Bronx is in full championship mode. Gaethje appears to be next on his list, but I don’t think that is the biggest concern for Oliveira at the moment. He could very well start building his championship legacy this year, and he has a tremendous crop of talent in front of him. Whether it be Justin Gatheje, Islam Makhachev, Beneil Dariush, Dustin Poirier or even Michael Chandler, Oliveira is gonna have his work cut out for him in 2022. There might even be a Red Panty Night coming his way, if Mystic Mac has anything to say about it.
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