Dustin Poirier caused quite the stir on social media after ‘The Diamond’ revealed that his highly anticipated clash with Benoit Saint-Denis was no longer on the docket.
Last month, Dana White announced that Poirier will square off with the rising lightweight contender at UFC 299 on March 9 in the evening’s co-main event. However, those plans were seemingly scrapped when Poirier took to social media to reveal that his showdown with the ‘God of War’ was no more. “My fights off but still working,” Poirier wrote on X.
Renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani later added that during a conversation with Poirier, ‘The Diamond’ confirmed that his fight with Saint-Denis was never officially signed. “There was no contractual agreement before the fight was announced and we couldn’t come to terms,” Poirier reportedly revealed.
I reached out to @DustinPoirier about his tweet that the BSD fight at 299 is off.
His response:
“There was no contractual agreement before the fight was announced and we couldn't come to terms.”
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 1, 2024
Dustin Poirier Reverses His Position on UFC 299 Fight
Roughly four hours later, Poirier reversed his position, revealing that the fight was back on for UFC 299 and that his initial announcement was nothing more than a “misunderstanding” between himself and his manager.
“Sorry folks, I jumped the gun, I couldn’t get a hold of my manager for a few days,” Poirier wrote. “I just spoke with him and Hunter. Misunderstanding on my part. Fight is on! See you March 9th Miami!!!”
Sorry folks, I jumped the gun, I couldn't get a hold of my manager for a few days. I just spoke with him and Hunter. Misunderstanding on my part. Fight is on! See you March 9th Miami!!! pic.twitter.com/oPriv0dMQq
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) February 1, 2024
It didn’t take long for people to realize what was going on.
“Dustin finally going public got him what he wanted,” Helwani stated on social media. “That’s the biz. Good on him. Doesn’t change the fact that up until an hour ago he didn’t agree – remember he broke this story, no one else – and when this was announced almost a month ago he hadn’t agreed. No one is denying that BSD agreed, which his team has confirmed.”
No. Dustin finally going public got him what he wanted. That’s the biz. Good on him.
Doesn’t change the fact that up until an hour ago he didn’t agree – remember he broke this story, no one else – and when this was announced almost a month ago he hadn’t agreed. No one is… https://t.co/XU5mzZNDKb
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 1, 2024
It appears as though Dustin Poirier went public with the cancelation as a way to coax the UFC into agreeing to his terms. It was nothing more than a game of cat and mouse with the MMA media being used as bait.
With the UFC’s notoriously stingy back office, you can’t fault Poirier for fighting for what he wants. Well played.
