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Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor have built a bitter UFC rivalry over the years. While Poirier hasn't achieved the same superstar status as McGregor, former UFC contender and current mixed martial arts analyst Chael Sonnen believes that could be the No.2-ranked lightweight's goal.
Poirier's back-to-back victories over McGregor have elevated his starpower. However, he is yet to achieve the level of stardom that Sonnen mentions. Poirier's UFC 281 victory over Michael Chandler was his first time not competing in a main event in over five years, a streak that lasted nine fights.
Speaking on his podcast, Beyond the Fight, Sonnen stated:
"Dustin Poirier right now is not on a mission to be champion, and to become champion is very realistic, that's not the statement I'm making... When you get to a level of popularity where the outcome of your match no longer matters. It would not matter if you won or lost... I'm talking about Conor McGregor status... He wants to do super-fights. He wants to do massive fights and the title be damned."
Watch Chael Sonnen's full comments on Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor below (starting at the 8:25 mark):
Renato Moicano calls out Conor McGregor
Following his impressive first-round submission victory over Brad Riddell at UFC 281, Renato Moicano passed Conor McGregor in the lightweight rankings. Moicano shared his thoughts on passing the UFC's biggest superstar in the rankings.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour, Moicano stated:
"F**k McGregor bro. He's done bro. Now, it's my time. McGregor, he did a lot for this sport, but right now, he's done, that's the truth, but if he wants to get the smoke, he's gonna be in trouble because I will beat him. I will beat his a** bro. You can be sure of that."
Moicano shared that McGregor would be his dream opponent because of McGregor's status as the money fight. The No.13-ranked lightweight noted that he wants to make money. He did, however, share that he is aware that the fight is unlikely to come to fruition, noting that McGregor seems destined to move up to a higher weight class.
Watch Renato Moicano discuss passing Conor McGregor in the lightweight rankings below (starting at the 7:53 mark):
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