Exclusive: Dustin Poirier Forgives Michael Chandler, Targets Undisputed World Title

Dustin Poirier’s win on Saturday was something he really needed.

Poirier told FIGHT SPORTS in an exclusive interview on Thursday that bouncing back from his loss in December 2021 to then-champion Charles Oliveira was something he had to deal with. But now, since he’s back in the winner’s circle, he said he finds himself starting to get content with his career, which has stretched from 2009 to now.

“I had to sit on that loss until now to get my hand raised again,” Poirier said.

“It’s great, man. It’s a lot of hard work, it’s a lot of lessons, but being back in the winner’s circle and riding the ship it feels great.”

But his path to last Saturday’s win wasn’t too simple.

Poirier faced former Bellator champion Michael Chandler on the undercard of UFC 281. Both Poirier and Chandler are considered top talents in the UFC’s lightweight division.

Ahead of the fight, their matchup was predicted to be Fight of the Night — which it was later awarded.

Covered in blood and sweat, Poirier and Chandler wrestled it out until the final round. But Poirier noted after the fight that Chandler was fighting dirty.

“I told him this is my house,” Poirier said. “That’s what I told him. ‘This is my house.’ That’s it.

“And I told him he’s a dirty motherf*****, too, for putting his fingers in my mouth and blowing his nose. It’s all good.”

“Yes, I will admit his mouth was open and my hand went inside of there and was on his mouthpiece,” Chandler previously said.

“He bit down, I was trying to pull it out. It wasn’t as though I was trying to pull it out, and he was biting it and I couldn’t get it out. It was more just the angle. I mean you’re getting pushed up against the cage.

“Then when Dan Miragliotta was saying I was hitting him in the back of the head, I’ll have to go back and watch it to be honest with you but I know I was catching his ear, or at least in my mind I was catching his ear. So we had that kind of conversation. You all know I’m not a cheater. I love this game. I don’t cheat.”

But on Thursday, Poirier said he’s already past what happened.

“It’s fighting. This is war when we get out there and that bell rings under those lights we’re fighting for our lives. I don’t know if people don’t understand that,” he said.

“I’m sure he didn’t plan on doing the things he did, but when you’re fighting for your life, you try to win however you can.

“He might not be a dirty guy, but he did some things that shouldn’t have been done, so it’s whatever. After that final bell rings, I walk away and it’s over.”

Now with his 29th win, Poirier said he’s getting a point where he’s content with his career. But, there’s still some things that he wants to accomplish in the sport.

“I want to be the undisputed world champion,” he said.