Dustin Poirier suggests raised stakes for upcoming fight with Nate Diaz, and his fellow fighters love it

UFC 230, which goes down on November 3 inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden, is still without a main event. That being said, the card does have dynamite co-main event, which will pit Dustin Poirier against Nate Diaz in a lightweight bout that is brimming with title implications.

Speaking on Twitter on Thursday, Dustin Poirier made a suggestion that would seem to give his fight with Diaz enough oomph that it could serve as the UFC 230 main event. He suggested the fight could be contested at 165 pounds — for the championship of a new 165-pound division.

What about me and Nate for the 165lbs belt?

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) September 20, 2018

“What about me and Nate for the 165lbs belt?” Dustin Poirier said on Twitter.

To remind, many fighters have recently suggested the UFC abolish the traditional 170-pound welterweight division, and add a 165-pound and a 175-pound division in its place. This would allow fighters who struggle to cut to the lightweight division a chance to fight slightly heavier, and smaller welterweights an opportunity to fight slightly smaller opponents.

While the UFC has not been especially receptive to suggestions of new 165 and 175 pound divisions, many fighters are all for it. In fact, many of Poirier’s fellow fighters offered comments and Retweets in support of his suggestion.

https://twitter.com/CubSwanson/status/1042927796920569856

“I like it” said UFC featherweight contender Cub Swanson.

This would be cool. https://t.co/fSWOMPPGWl

— Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) September 21, 2018

“This would be cool,” said bareknuckle fighting star Bec Rawlings.

Fuck. Yeah. https://t.co/KqVdnGPqcM

— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) September 21, 2018

“Fuck Yeah,” said former lightweight contender Michael Chiesa, who was recently forced up to the 170-pound welterweight division when the cut to lightweight became unmanageable.

As of now, Nate Diaz has not responded to this suggestion. And while Diaz has suggested belts don’t matter all that much to him in the past, it seems unlikely he’d turn down the opportunity to fight for one.

Would you be interested in seeing Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz fight for the inaugural 165-pound title in the UFC 230 main event?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 9/21/2018.