The UFC wants to book a highly anticipated fight between Dustin Poirier and Tony Ferguson on Oct. 24, but it isn’t a done deal just yet.
“I’m in,” Poirier told ESPN on Wednesday. “… I just need to be compensated if they want this fight. Simple as that.”
Ferguson has verbally agreed to the fight, sources told ESPN, and signing the deal does not appear to be a hurdle.
Poirier said the two sides have not been able to come to terms, delaying the finalization of the fight for UFC 254 next month in Abu Dhabi.
“I’m a prize fighter and the prize needs to be right,” said Poirier, who is training at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.
UFC president Dana White said in late August that the promotion was “probably” going to next book Ferguson vs. Poirier, however nothing has been publicly discussed since.
The fight would feature two of the best lightweights in the world, as well as two of the most popular fighters in the UFC.
Poirier (26-6, 1 NC) is coming off a win over Dan Hooker in June. He has won five of his last six fights, with his lone loss coming against lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov last year.
Ferguson (25-4) had his 12-fight winning streak snapped in May by Justin Gaethje and has not fought since.
The main event for UFC 254 is Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje for the undisputed lightweight title. The Poirier-Ferguson fight, if it gets signed, would serve as the co-main.
Sources said the UFC has discussed a scenario where if Gaethje withdraws from the main event, Ferguson would replace him against Nurmagomedov. However, if Nurmagomedov withdraws, Poirier would be the replacement against Gaethje.
This stipulation would make sense considering the Nurmagomedov-Ferguson fight is one the UFC has tried to book five times to no avail. Poirier has a win over Gaethje.