Dustin Poirier: Conor McGregor Trilogy ‘Makes a Lot of Sense and a Lot of Money’

All signs still seem to be pointing toward a trilogy bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor later this year.

Porier is coming off a second-round technical knockout victory against the Irish superstar at UFC 257 on Jan. 23, while McGregor stopped “The Diamond” via first-round TKO in their first meeting at UFC 178 in September 2014. During a recent appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, Poirier discussed why a third matchup remains appealing.

“Conor wants the trilogy and I do too,” Poirier said. “We’re just trying to get the right deal structured. This is going to be a big fight. He knocked me out, I knocked him out. The trilogy. For sure one of the biggest fights this year, but maybe of all time... So I think the trilogy makes a lot of sense and a lot of money. So we’re just trying to get the right deal structured and see what the time frame is. Because for a guy like Conor, you want the fans in there, even if it’s limited.”

While Poirier would accept a lightweight championship bout against McGregor, he doesn’t think the SBG Ireland representative’s recent track record warrants a title shot.

“Conor’s been away so long, his last two fights at 155, he’s lost, so you can’t put him in there for a title fight. How could you justify doing that when you have guys like [Charles] Oliveira?” Poirier said.

Despite the impressive nature of his latest triumph, Poirier expects to see a different version of McGregor should they square off for a third time.

“It’s fighting. I don’t think you ever really [have someone’s number]. He’ll make adjustments. It will be a completely different fight. Like the first and the second were different, the third one’s gonna be different as well because I’m gonna make adjustments as well. I’ve got to switch it up and keep things fresh and keep him guessing.”

If everything comes together as he hopes — which is never a given when McGregor is involved — Poirier would like to see the trilogy take place sometime this summer.

“June, July,” Poirier said. “I will, if I get the call and it’s time to go to work, I will lock myself in training camp, but I’m still not right now ready to go back to Florida a month removed from the last fight and then lock down for another 10 weeks or whatever it is. So we’ll see. If they call, I will do it but I’d rather it be a bit further. Let me enjoy my life back home in Louisiana before I go right back out to Florida.”