UFC 164 winner Dustin Poirier on trash-talking, potential Cub Swanson rematch

Dustin Poirier got back in the win column this past weekend at UFC 164, but in the buildup to the fight, he said there was a confusing amount of bad blood.

Erik Koch (13-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC), who nearly submitted Poirier (14-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) before an eventual decision loss, apparently didn’t appreciate what he considered pre-fight trash-talk from his opponent.

Poirier, who met Koch on the Aug. 31 pay-per-view event’s main card at Milwaukee’s Bradley Center, still is confused by that notion, though he admits the two WEC veterans eventually mended fences.

“This is what I don’t understand, man,” Poirier told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “I saw some interviews with him, and he said he’s going to beat me up because I’m talking crap and stuff like that. But I don’t think I even really talked crap. All I said was that I was going to go into his hometown and beat him up in front of his family or whatever.

“You know, that’s true. That’s not talking crap. We both planned on going out there and trying to physically hurt one another or submit or beat each other into unconsciousness. How is that talking crap? We’re trying to go in there and hurt one another.”

For the straight-talking Poirier, who successfully rebounded from a 1-2 skid with the needed win, it’s all now in the past. After their bout, which was an early “Fight of the Night” contender and saw Poirier survive a pair of submission attempts, the Louisiana native had a new impression of Koch.

“He was very very humble after the fight, humble in defeat,” Poirier said. “As soon as the fight was over, he told me great job. We talked a little bit, and I told him great fight for him and no hard feelings on the talk you thought I was doing. It was all good. He’s a very nice guy. I guess I had it my head I thought he was really cocky and arrogant, but after the fight, he seemed like a really nice guy.”

Koch, who was on the fast track to a title shot before a “Fight of the Year” submission loss to Chan Sung Jung in May 2012, said he plans to build off his latest victory. While he’d sometimes balloon up to 180 pounds between fights, he’s promised himself it won’t happen this time.

“Of course I’m going to eat my good Louisiana food while I’m here, but I’m also going to work out,” said Poirier, who holds his camps in Florida at American Top Team. “I’m staying in shape. I want to fight again this year, hopefully in December, or whatever the UFC has planned.

” … I’m trying to grow everywhere, in and out of the cage as a fighter. This time, I’m not pigging out. I’m keeping my weight good. Matter of fact, today (Monday) I ran three miles and stuff before breakfast. I’m just trying to stay in decent shape and let myself get out of shape like I was doing before.”

As for what’s next, he’s not going to make any grand callouts. Whatever the UFC wants, he’s down for it. Admittedly, though, he’d like a chance to avenge his February decision loss to Swanson, who’s now won five straight and moved to the upper echelon of the division.

“I’ll fight whoever – whoever the UFC sends a contract – I’ll sign it and send it back, and we’ll fight,” Poirier said. “But also to be fair, I fought Cub Swanson on short notice when he had a full camp. I had to cut a lot of weight and fight overseas. I just felt like everything – a lot of stuff – was stacked against me in that fight. I would like to do it proper. I’d like to have a full camp and do it the right way and see what happens.

“But I also understand he’s put together a great streak. He deserves to be up there at the top, and I’m still climbing my way back. It’s whatever the UFC wants, but I like that fight.”

For complete coverage of UFC 164, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

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