Expect fireworks as Dustin Poirier steps inside the UFC Octagon for the first time since the KO loss against Justin Gaethje last year. The former interim lightweight champion will take on up-and-coming 28-year-old Benoit Saint-Denis in a special 5-round co-main event.
A lot of eyes will be on the Diamond, who, at 35, is quite possibly running for his last chance at lightweight gold. A loss against Saint-Denis could also mean the end of the road for the Lousiana native, who has repeatedly stated that he treats every fight as his last one.
Be that as it may, the energy inside the camp is great as usual, and Dustin Poirier is physically and mentally in the right place ahead of UFC 299. In a recent appearance on UFC Embedded, Dustin Poirier’s coach, Mike Brown, shed light on the training camp.
Dustin Poirier is not planning to leave it to the judges at UFC 299
Mike Brown doesn’t think the fight goes the distance. With two violent finishers and absolute warriors inside the cage, the American Top Team coach says it could well be the “Fight of the Year.” Brown said:
“It’s time to set him free man, he is ready to go. He says he is feeling the best he has felt in a long time. I am confident on Saturday night. It’s going to be another crazy one, guaranteed. Another wild crazy, you know, maniac, type fight”.
“Dustin doesn’t have a boring bone in his body; he comes up 25 hard minutes. He doesn’t stop you know and Benoit Saint-Denis is the same type of fighter. So I don’t anticipate it going in the distance. I anticipate to be another Fight of the Year type fight, guaranteed. It’s going to be nerve-wracking as a coach, but, a gem for the fans,” Brown concluded.
With each of Saint-Denis’ last five outings in the lightweight division not going the distance, fans can’t wait for another exciting performance from Dustin Poirier, who has earned a penchant for never being in a boring fight.
Benoit Saint-Denis can get a title shot with win over Dustin Poirier
Benoit Saint-Denis has little to lose, even if he is unsuccessful against Dustin Poirier this weekend. The 28-year-old fighter is not even in the top 10 of the lightweight division, but with a win over Poirier at UFC 299, he can find himself in the #3 spot.
WAR pic.twitter.com/uqyN5XgxTA
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) March 1, 2024
Saint-Denis’ team has also stated that they have already negotiated the terms of the title fight if they are victorious this weekend. However, it will be easier said than done against a crafty veteran like Poirier. Can the fighter from France cause an upset this weekend? Only time will tell.