Tony Ferguson Calls on Dana White to “Pay” Dustin Poirier

If you, like many fans, have been feeling down since Dana White confirmed the UFC’s moving on from Tony Ferguson versus Dustin Poirier, well “El Cucuy’s” got your back.

Ferguson calls on White to “pay” Poirier, make fight happen

Not too long ago, it was reported that UFC was working on booking a bout between Ferguson and Poirier. The news seemed to generate a lot of buzz in the hardcore fan community.

After all, both Ferguson and Poirier are two of the best lightweights of this generation, and the timing for the fight seems ideal.

Poirier is currently ranked #2 in the UFC’s lightweight division and Ferguson is #3. Further, the UFC was looking at adding the bout to the October 24th, UFC 254 card.

Lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to face interim champ, Justin Gaethje that night. So, if something were to go wrong, the UFC would have some options to work with if Poirier and Ferguson were fighting on that card.

Well, recently Poirier reported that he will not be fighting Ferguson at UFC 254, since the two sides couldn’t come to terms.

Then this past weekend, White was asked whether Ferguson – Poirier was still a possibility and he said this (quote via MMA Junkie).

“No, we’re not even trying to salvage it,” White said. “We’re getting another fight. It’ll happen (with a different opponent for Ferguson).”

Since then, however, Ferguson tweeted out this.

“Here’s Lookin’ At You Kid” Pay the man
@danawhite @ufc Love ya’ll but let’s give the Hardcore & Casual fans what they deserve, a good fight Sir @DustinPoirier#ufc254

Respect to Ferguson

So, there’s a couple of things to discuss here.

First off, hats off to Ferguson here for still trying to make the fight happen. Further, he should be commended for trying to get Poirier a bump in pay, rather than just telling him to fight.

Poirier is one of the most accomplished lightweights of this generation, and while we don’t know what the UFC offered, it’s hard to imagine “The Diamond’s” asking price is way out there. 

But, will Ferguson’s campaign here work? Sadly, probably not.

Unless something happens to another all-star bout that’s booked for the UFC’s upcoming schedule, it would be a surprise if White reversed course here. Especially since he relayed publicly that they’re moving on.

So, the question is, who could be next for Ferguson? Obviously a lot of folks would love to see Conor McGregor battle the former interim champ. 

But, given White’s commitment to having McGregor fight for the lightweight title, if he unretires, it’s hard to imagine that match-up happening.