Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier wanted a fight in his home state of Louisiana, but he knew he'd have to earn it.
Heading into his UFC Fight Night 63 bout in April against Carlos Diego Ferreira, Poirier faced massive pressures because of this fact.
Adding to the gravity of this matchup, the American Top Team product was coming off a loss to trash-talking Irishman Conor McGregor at UFC 178 the previous September. That fight was the most hyped bout of Poirier's career, and he lost via first-round knockout.
After this defeat, Poirier announced he would move from featherweight back up to the lightweight division, where he spent the beginning of his career and found great success. The bout against Ferreira would mark Poirier's first bout at 155 pounds in over four years, and questions lingered.
"Changing weight classes is a big move to do, especially in this sport and especially when I was in the Top 10 at featherweight," Poirier told Bleacher Report."There were second thoughts and stuff like that, but once it came down to fight week and I cut the weight to 155…I belong here. I'm a bigger guy, and '45 was just crushing to make, man. I just feel more comfortable here."
Then, there was the matter of that New Orleans card, UFC Fight Night 68, hanging in the not-so-distant future. Poirier fought Ferreira April 4, and the Louisiana card was booked for Saturday, June 6. He knew if he wanted a piece of the home-state action he'd not only have to win—he'd have to win quickly and emerge injury-free.
Four minutes into the fight, that's exactly what Poirier did, and his ticket to Louisiana was punched.
"I knew if I went in and got the job done I'd for sure be on the Louisiana card, and, you know, I did it," Poirier said. "And as soon I did it, [UFC Matchmaker] Joe Silva came in the cage and told me he had a spot for me on the Louisiana card. It really was just perfect. Everything went like clockwork, man."
Now facing 27-year-old rising star Yancy Medeiros, Poirier feels more comfortable in his new weight class, and he's certain he made the right choice to leave the featherweight division. In fact, Poirier feels he could serve as an example to other fighters who drain their bodies and minds to cut weight just days before a big fight.
"I think the huge weight cuts should be done with," Poirier said. "It's crazy. Why? We build our body up so much just to tear it down and have to go out there and perform drained. It's just not the way to be an athlete and perform."
In evaluating his upcoming clash with Medeiros, Poirier sees a bit of himself in his opponent. The Hawaiian-born fighter is rangy and aggressive, and he struggles to keep the pedal off the floor once the opening bell rings—just like Poirier.
The Louisiana native has become a fan favorite over his six-year professional MMA career because of this style, but he admits it's something he works to suppress—just a touch—on fight night.
"It's [staying relaxed and composed is] getting easier every fight," Poirier said. "You're growing and maturing in the sport, but when I was younger, I used to kind of get caught in the moment, just throwing punches and going crazy, just running on adrenaline. But now I'm starting to rely more on technique and my experience."
While Poirier's crystal ball couldn't deliver a firm prediction for how his bout against Medeiros will shake out inside the UFC Octagon Saturday in New Orleans, he knew one thing to be certain: The fans will leave happy.
"It [the clash of aggressive styles] works in the fans' advantage," Poirier said. "They're going to get an awesome fight, and these are the kinds of fights I like to be in. I'm excited."
That said, Poirier has full confidence his hand will be raised by the bout's end.
"I think I'm better everywhere, man," Poirier said. "I think I'm a better kickboxer, and I think I'm a better grappler, and I'll show it Saturday."
#UFCNOLA is two days away! RT for @DustinPoirier! http://t.co/StQUmlkiVB pic.twitter.com/tvTHtxln9Y
— UFC Store (@ufcstore) June 4, 2015
Beyond Medeiros, the UFC's lightweight division is stacked with talent. Whereas Poirier found himself in a relatively shallow pool of Top-10 fighters at featherweight, he'll now have to get past some incredibly skilled and potent challengers just to crack the Top 15 at lightweight.
To him, though, that's part of the fun. That's part of the challenge, and he's embracing it moving forward, setting himself a lofty goal that he aims to achieve by the end of 2015.
"I want to crack the Top 10, that's the goal, so I'm going to get the win Saturday and look for some big names," Poirier said. "That's my goal for this year."
And that devastating loss to McGregor? Poirier wouldn't mind running that one back. The Irish superstar will challenge for UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo's title at July 11's UFC 189 event, and after that, he may just follow Poirier right up to lightweight.
If he chooses that route, Poirier will be ready.
"Oh, yeah, 100 percent, I'd like that fight [against McGregor]," Poirier said. "I'll be here waiting. But right now, I don't even want to say his name."
