UFC lightweight fighter Dustin Poirier has made the decision to back out of his scheduled fight against Benoit Saint-Denis after failing to reach a financial agreement with the UFC. The bout between Poirier, with a record of 29-8, and rising contender Saint-Denis, with a record of 13-1, was expected to take place at UFC 299 on March 9 in Miami. The announcement of the fight was made by UFC CEO Dana White earlier this month, with Poirier set to be the co-main event alongside the bantamweight title fight between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera.
Poirier took to social media on Thursday to inform his fans that the fight with Saint-Denis had been called off. In his statement to ESPN, Poirier clarified that the reason for his withdrawal was the inability to come to contractual terms with the UFC prior to the fight’s announcement. He explained, “There was no contractual agreement before the fight was announced and we couldn’t come to terms.”
UFC’s Response Remains Pending
As of now, the UFC has not commented on Poirier’s decision to withdraw from the bout. It remains to be seen how the organization will respond to Poirier’s stance.
The 35-year-old fighter’s most recent fight was in July, where he suffered a knockout loss to Justin Gaethje in a BMF title fight. Despite this setback, Poirier has had a highly successful period in his career, with notable fights against Conor McGregor and Charles Oliveira, as well as an exciting showdown with Michael Chandler. Poirier’s decision to withdraw from the fight with Saint-Denis comes during this successful stretch.
Meanwhile, Saint-Denis, at 28 years old, is currently on a remarkable five-fight win streak. His rise in the lightweight division has garnered attention and positioned him as a potential contender.
Dustin Poirier’s withdrawal from his scheduled fight against Benoit Saint-Denis has sent shockwaves through the UFC. The financial disputes that prevented the bout from materializing have left both fans and the organization disappointed. As Poirier navigates the next chapter of his career, it remains to be seen how this setback will impact his future fights and opportunities in the UFC.
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