Makhachev: Poirier doesn't deserve title fight, 'but we don't have any options'

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev won't lie about the fact Dustin Poirier hasn't exactly earned a title shot. But he still wants to face him next.

"I know Dustin doesn't deserve the title fight, but we don't have any options right now," Makhachev told MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn. "Everybody is busy. But I want to fight."

Makhachev expressed interest in a June title defense against Poirier after "The Diamond" knocked out Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC 299 co-main event last weekend. Poirier, the No. 3-ranked contender and a former interim champ, returned to the win column after suffering a knockout loss to Justin Gaethje last July.

Makhachev said he wants to stay active, and with Charles Oliveira versus Arman Tsarukyan and Gaethje versus Max Holloway scheduled for UFC 300 on April 13, he sees Poirier as a solid alternative.

"I want to fight three times in the year," Makhachev said. "That's why I just have to call someone, and Poirier is free now. And he showed an excellent performance and scored a beautiful knockout. He's free now, he's healthy, and I asked him to fight in June. Maybe."

Makhachev said he wanted to return to action in March - presumably against Gaethje, whom he had been campaigning to fight - but the UFC told him there was no opponent available. Makhachev added that the promotion had previously asked him to fight in February, but he was dealing with a minor injury at the time.

Makhachev is coming off a knockout win over then-featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 last October. He said a fight with Poirier will be "good for me."

"He's beaten a lot of tough guys," Makhachev said of Poirier. "He's a legend."