Dustin Poirier wants UFC title fight after win over Conor McGregor

Former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor (22-5-0) recently said that he wants to complete a trilogy of fights versus Dustin Poirier (27-6-0), perhaps with the UFC lightweight championship on the line if the unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0-0) remains retired as most expect. 

Poirier seemingly has no issue with that as long as his next bout is for a title. 

"Who else has put the resume together that I have in my last six, seven fights, whatever it has been?" Poirier told ESPN's Ariel Helwani (h/t Marc Raimondi) on Monday. "Also beating Conor, a two-weight world champion adds another world champion to the list of guys I've taken out. ... I think I'm most deserving to be in a title fight out of all these guys."

Poirier continued: 

"I'm not sure if the UFC would do that. Why wasn't (the previous fight against McGregor) for the belt? Politics? We're chasing Khabib? What's going on here? ... I have no idea what direction [the UFC is going to] move in."

UFC boss Dana White recently met with Nurmagomedov, but there's no indication the 32-year-old wants to return to the octagon to defend his belt. Poirier moved to No. 1 in the official rankings for the lightweight division following his victory over McGregor at UFC 257 on Jan. 23, so he theoretically should be first in line whenever White decides to crown a new champion.

Poirier versus McGregor III in a May title fight would likely do massive pay-per-view business. However, Justin Gaethje (22-3-0), No. 2. in the division, has suggested he will leave the UFC if McGregor receives a championship bout coming off a loss.