Dustin Poirier Clarifies 'Misunderstanding,' Confirms Resumption of UFC 299 Bout Against Benoit Saint-Denis

Highlights

• Dustin Poirier initially announced the cancellation of his fight but quickly realized it was a misunderstanding and clarified that the fight is back on at UFC 299.
• The incident highlights the occasional discrepancies between fight announcements and finalized agreements in the fast-paced world of MMA.
• Poirier's apology and explanation for the mix-up reveals the importance of clear communication and formal contracts in professional fighting.

Dustin Poirier initially declared the cancellation of his co-main event fight against Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299, scheduled for March 9 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. However, he swiftly reversed his decision, attributing the initial announcement to a misunderstanding.

Despite stating earlier that contract negotiations with the UFC had hit an impasse, Poirier later clarified that the fight with Saint-Denis is officially back on, dismissing the entire episode as a miscommunication. The incident highlighted the fast-paced nature of fight announcements, revealing occasional discrepancies between announcements and finalized agreements.

Dustin Poirier Apologizes For Misunderstanding

‘The Diamond’ Reaffirmed His Fight For UFC 299

Shortly after announcing the cancellation of the March matchup, the former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier, abruptly reversed his decision.

Initially citing contract negotiations with the UFC as a stumbling block, Poirier later issued a follow-up statement confirming the official reinstatement of his fight with Benoit Saint Denis, attributing the entire episode to a misunderstanding.

Apologizing for prematurely conveying the fight's cancellation, Poirier explained the mix-up, stating, "Sorry folks, I jumped the gun. I couldn't get a hold of my manager for a few days. I just spoke with him and Hunter [Campbell]. Misunderstanding on my part. Fight is on! See you March 9th in Miami!"

Poirier's initial statement, indicating a failure to reach terms with the promotion, suggested that he hadn't formally signed a contract for the UFC 299 clash against Saint-Denis.

Whether it was a miscommunication or a swift resolution to the terms he sought, the deal was swiftly finalized. Consequently, Poirier is now set to face Saint Denis in the co-main event at UFC 299 on March 9 in Miami, with the event's main attraction featuring a bantamweight title rematch between Sean O'Malley and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.

UFC’s Recent History Of Promoting Fights That Are Not Signed

Dustin Poirier Is One Of Many Cases Recently

Dominick Reyes recently disclosed that he never finalized a contract to face Carlos Ulberg at UFC Atlantic City, and the fight is now canceled due to a blood clot issue for Reyes. Additionally, the March 30th card lost its main event featuring Sean Brady and Vicente Luque. ESPN reported that Brady, who is reportedly injured, never signed a bout agreement. Despite being promoted as official by the UFC since early January, both matchups faced unexpected setbacks.

Reacting to the news during an interview with Shak MMA, Johnny Eblen, Bellator middleweight champion and training partner of Dustin Poirier, expressed his candid thoughts on the situation.

Eblen bluntly criticized the UFC, stating, "I just think it's kind of horses—t because I know how much money the UFC makes, and they can make that fight happen, but they're choosing not to because they're being stingy, in a way. And the fact that no contract was signed, and they were willing to f—ing announce it? It is f—ing beyond me, man. That's never happened to me."

Eblen continued, highlighting the lack of even a verbal agreement, as stated by Dustin Poirier. He emphasized that a verbal agreement typically involves a clear understanding and commitment from both parties, whereas Poirier's situation lacked that assurance. Eblen concluded by expressing his disbelief at the UFC's promotion of the fights to such a degree without solid agreements in place, deeming it "kind of crazy" and observing how the situation backfired.