Dan Hooker’s callout of Dustin Poirier at UFC 243 seems to have come up short, with ‘The Diamond’ revealing he has plans to face Conor McGregor next.
Sorry, Dan Hooker, but it’s not your turn. That was the response, in essence, from Dustin Poirier, after the victorious Hooker called him out at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia. The PPV card had Hooker in the co-main event spot on Saturday night. And he made the most of it, putting on a one-sided showing against Al Iaquinta.
Post-fight, ‘The Hangman’ kept things short and sweet. “I’m going to smash your face in,” he said, addressing Poirier. “Meet me in New Zealand 2020, and I’m going to end you!”
Well, pump the brakes on that idea. Taking to Twitter to respond, Poirier announced that “I’m fighting the Irishman next. You’re close but not yet buddy keep punching.”
I'm fighting the Irishman next. You're close but not yet buddy keep punching @danthehangman
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) October 6, 2019
Poirier has been one of the more frequent suggestions for Conor McGregor’s return fight, expected to take place in early 2020. The pair fought once before, with McGregor knocking Poirier out at featherweight in 2014. Both fighters are coming off losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Other options for McGregor include Cowboy Cerrone, and Justin Gaethje.
Hooker’s own Twitter response? “Quit chasing leprechauns, let’s scrap.”
Quit chasing leprechauns, let's scrap.
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) October 6, 2019
Poirier would later suggest a bout between Hooker and Cowboy Cerrone. Regardless of what fight actually gets made, there are a lot of interesting options among the top lightweights at the moment, with Tony Ferguson likely next for champion Khabib.
