Report: UFC willing to replace Poirier in bout vs. McGregor
The UFC said it's willing to replace Dustin Poirier in the planned Jan. 23 fight against Conor McGregor, sources told ESPN's Ariel Helwani.
Poirier is reportedly a hurdle in getting the bout finalized. "The Diamond" is looking to get a deal he's comfortable with, Helwani added, but he and the UFC are still apart.
If the promotion can't come to terms with Poirier, it would reportedly consider moving on to former interim champion Justin Gaethje or someone else as McGregor's next opponent.
It's unclear whether McGregor is interested in a fight with Gaethje, who lost to lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254.
In October, McGregor and Poirier verbally agreed to the fight, but contracts weren't signed.
Poirier was expected to face Tony Ferguson at UFC 254, but the bout never materialized because the ex-interim champ failed to come to terms with the UFC.
The 31-year-old is coming off a win over Dan Hooker in June.
McGregor, a former two-division champion, hasn't stepped into the Octagon since a TKO victory over Donald Cerrone in January.