Poirier brushes off Covington's callout: 'It's cute'

Colby Covington's recent callout didn't change Dustin Poirier's stance on a potential matchup between them.

After beating Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 earlier in March, Covington used his postfight interview as an opportunity to express interest in fighting Poirier, his former teammate at American Top Team.

Poirier had already said he would never fight Covington in the Octagon because he doesn't want Covington to make money off his name. And it appears Covington's callout wasn't enough to convince Poirier to agree to the fight.

"It's cute," Poirier told UFC reporter Heidi Androl on Saturday. "It's all good. It is what it is. People want big fights. That's a big fight. He wants a big fight."

Poirier, who competes in the lightweight division, suggested Covington instead fight people from his own weight class and try to work his way back into title contention. Covington is ranked No. 1 at welterweight but has lost twice to champion Kamaru Usman.

Meanwhile, Poirier said he prefers the much-talked-about matchup with Nate Diaz this summer. "The Diamond" is coming off a loss to lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and said he still isn't sure whether he'll stay in that division or move up to welterweight.

"(I've) been watching him and his brother forever, so it's exciting for me," Poirier said of Nick and Nate Diaz. "The matchup would be fun for the fans. That's more likely than the Colby fight."