Dustin Poirier will return to the UFC to fight rising star Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event at UFC 299 on March 9 in Miami.
Dustin Poirier’s back, folks! He’s set to square off with the up-and-comer, Benoit Saint Denis. This five-round co-main event is slated for UFC 299 on March 9, all the way from sunny Miami.
Guess who dropped the news? None other than UFC CEO, Dana White. He spilled the beans on a Sunday night, of all times. And get this: both fighters wanted a five-round fight. So, Dana said, “Why not?” and gave ’em what they asked for.
Remember Poirier? He’s been out of the spotlight since that head kick knockout loss to Justin Gaethje. That was back in July, and it left him with a 4-2 record in his last six fights. But hey, let’s not forget his victories over Conor McGregor and his submission of Michael Chandler in 2021. Sure, he didn’t quite clinch the title fight against Charles Oliveira, but he’s still got game.
Now, at 34, the former interim champ is looking to bounce back. And he’s doing it by taking on one of the top prospects in the 155-pound division. Talk about a comeback!
On the other side of the octagon, we have Saint Denis. After a rocky start in 2021, he’s been on a roll with five straight wins. And none of his opponents made it past the second round. His latest victory? A brutal head kick knockout against Matt Frevola at UFC 295. That earned him a Performance of the Night bonus, by the way.
Now, Saint Denis is stepping up his game. He’s taking on one of the most seasoned veterans in the lightweight division. It’s a big leap, but he’s ready for it.
So, it’s Poirier vs. Saint Denis in the co-main event. And the main event? That’s bantamweight champ Sean O’Malley defending his title against Marlon “Chito” Vera. Mark your calendars for March, folks. It’s gonna be a wild ride.