Report: Poirier vs. Gaethje targeted for spring

A rollicking clash of UFC lightweight contenders is in the works.

Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje have verbally agreed to square off and could share the cage sometime in April or as early as March 3 at UFC 222 in Las Vegas, Steven Marrocco of MMAjunkie reports.

Should the pair of fan favorites sign on the dotted line, Poirier would be meeting Gaethje on a two-fight win streak - a May no-contest opposite Eddie Alvarez notwithstanding. The longtime American Top Team man kicked off his 2017 with a majority decision over Jim Miller at UFC 208 and ended it with a third-round TKO of Anthony Pettis in a Fight of the Year candidate at UFC Fight Night 120 in November.

Gaethje is coming off two barn burners of his own, winning the first over Michael Johnson by second-round TKO at "The Ultimate Fighter 25" finale before dropping the second to Eddie Alvarez by third-round knockout at UFC 218 last month. The defeat marked the former WSOF champ's first in 19 professional fights.

UFC 222 will see featherweight champion Max Holloway defend his title against Frankie Edgar in the main event. The promotion's only reported event beyond March is UFC 223, set for April 7 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.