Dustin Poirier Refused to Save UFC 295 After Jon Jones’ Injury Left Dana White & Co in Trouble, Discloses Beneil Dariush

Beneil Dariush has recently claimed that Dustin Poirier refused a chance to save the UFC 295 card! The event was supposed to be headlined by Jon Jones defending his heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic. However, Jones suffered an injury during training shortly before the event causing the UFC and CEO Dana White to scramble to find a replacement.

The card then saw a replacement fight in the form of Tom Aspinall vs Sergei Pavlovich for the UFC Interim heavyweight title. But in a recent interview, Dariush revealed that both he and Poirier were offered the chance to fight each other at the event. And his comments also reveal an interesting insight into why ‘The Diamond’ refused the opportunity to fight him!

Dustin Poirier turned down offer to fight at UFC 295 after ‘Bones’s injury

Beneil Dariush will be taking on Arman Tsarukyan at the upcoming UFC Fight Night event in Austin, Texas on December 2nd. However, at a press conference ahead of the fight, Dariush revealed that the UFC and Dana White had offered him and Dustin Poirier a chance to save the UFC 295 card after Jon Jones’s injury came to light.

Poirier, who last made his appearance inside the Octagon at UFC 291 in a losing effort against Justin Gaethje, however, wasn’t interested in the fight. And according to Dariush, “I don’t get him excited I guess, the way he puts it.”

In the interview shared by TheMacLife on YouTube, Dariush shed some more light on the stalled matchup with Poirier. According to Dariush, “But from my understanding is, when Jon (Jones) got hurt, they were hoping to boost that card up with Dustin and myself. And they called him and he wasn’t interested”

However, Poirier declined the offer, and the same happened for the upcoming date on December 2nd. Dariush explained, “And I believe they even tried for this date (2nd December). This is what I was told, I’m not sure what he was told on his side, but he was also given the option of fighting this date with me and he turned down both of them.”

Dariush expressed the need to hear Dustin’s side to understand the situation fully. The unanswered challenge leaves fans curious about the reasons behind Dustin’s reluctance. Nevertheless, Poirier has recently revealed his love for boxing and a possible pursuit of an appearance inside the squared circle!

Poirier might consider a boxing fight in the future

Dustin Poirier has been contemplating a foray into boxing before concluding his career. Despite his UFC success, including an interim title and numerous accolades, Poirier is drawn to the allure of the sweet science. Expressing his desire on ‘The MMA Hour,’ he revealed the initial influence of boxing on his combat sports journey.

Although content with his MMA trajectory, Poirier believed he could thrive in boxing if the opportunity arose. He stated, “I think I would have done well in boxing. I still think I can do well in boxing.”

Read More: Dustin Poirier Claims UFC’s Bold Decision Saved Him a “Bunch of Money”: “I’m Glad It Happened”

Despite the allure of boxing, Poirier remains grounded, stating, “I’m an MMA fighter.” Reflecting on his journey, he expressed satisfaction with his career choices. The narrative unveils Poirier’s multifaceted connection to combat sports, emphasizing his enduring passion and openness to exploring different avenues within the fighting realm.

Do you think Dustin Poirier should have accepted the UFC’s offer to fight Beneil Dariush at UFC 295 or the upcoming Fight Night event? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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