The Weight Cutting Chronicles: UFC 264

Dustin Poirier UFC on ESPN 12
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 27: Dustin Poirier celebrates after his victory over Dan Hooker of New Zealand in their lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 27, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier (27-6 MMA, 19-5, 1 NC, UFC)

Featherweight (145lbs.): 8-3 (UFC)

Lightweight (155lbs.): 11-2, 1 NC (UFC), Former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion

Dustin Poirier is a big lightweight. So its even more surprising just how long he stayed at featherweight over the course of his UFC career. Poirier was very successful at featherweight too, but when he finally moved up to the lightweight division he looked so much better as he was able to spend less time managing his weight and more time preparing for his upcoming opponent.

Since moving up to the lightweight division after his first bout with Conor if one thing has stood out about Poirier it would have to be his durability. Dustin is able to absorb a lot of punishment and it is very likely that coming up to 155lbs from 145lbs aided in that. Dustin has been extremely successful at lightweight in the UFC and has beaten the who’s who of the division and captured the UFC Interim Lightweight Title only having lost to Michael Johnson and Khabib Nurmagomedov at 155lbs.

Dustin stands at 5’9″ tall and has a 73″ reach compared to that of his upcoming opponent who is identical in height but has a 74″ reach. Both men are also 32-years old though “The Diamond” has more fight miles than the “Notorious One.” Poirier easily walks around north of 190lbs and will undoubtedly be the larger man when he enters the octagon against Conor McGregor at UFC 264.