Ferguson wants Poirier: 'A stand-up battle wouldn't be bad'

Tony Ferguson seems to have no interest in taking a step down in competition after suffering a brutal knockout loss earlier in May.

The former UFC interim lightweight champion, who dropped his fourth straight fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 274, said he wants to face the No. 2-ranked Dustin Poirier in his next Octagon appearance.

"I would love to be able to fight Dustin Poirier," Ferguson told MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn. "Obviously, he likes to go stand-up. A stand-up battle wouldn't be bad."

Ferguson had a strong start against Chandler, hurting him on the feet and doing damage from bottom position. But Chandler went on to finish Ferguson with a front kick in Round 2 in what will go down as one of 2022's best highlights.

Once considered a top-three lightweight on the planet and the owner of a historic 12-fight winning streak, Ferguson hasn't been victorious in almost three years.

Of course, the timing for a Poirier-Ferguson bout may not work out. "The Diamond" is keen on returning to the cage this summer, while "El Cucuy" is likely to sit out until at least late 2022 after getting knocked out cold for the first time.

Poirier is looking to bounce back from a submission loss to then-champion Charles Oliveira in December.