Outside Source
I hear UFC is searching for a main event when they have one already. It’s me vs Nate. 165 pound title. A main event for the people. Stop searching, Dana. We got this. Let’s go.
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) September 25, 2018
The Ultimate Fighting Championship still doesn’t have a main event announced for their New York event in November at UFC 230, but it isn’t for lack of vocal volunteers.
Rumors were circulating that former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones could potentially feature in that main event slot given that he is a New York native and had just been declared eligible to fight shortly before the event date. Jones was finally handed his sentence for testing positive for the anabolic steroid Turinabol from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The suspension started from his retroactive date of July 28 of last year, which makes Jones eligible to fight again on Oct. 28, 2018. However, talk of Jones fighting at UFC 230 was quickly shut down by UFC President Dana White at the UFC 229 press conference last week.
Already on the card is the much-hyped lightweight battle between Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz. However, social media lit up on Tuesday after tweets made by both fighters suggested that they could be fighting in an inaugural 165-pound title fight on the main card.
First, Poirier fired off a tweet suggesting if there was a 165-pound division the UFC already have two high calibre fighters worthy of the opportunity. Then Diaz appeared to have formally announced it.
I’m Happy to announce that I’m bringing a new weight devision to the Ufc
I’ll be fighting the main event November 3rd in nyc against DustinPoirier for the first ever 165lb belt superfighter devision
I’m happy to be apart of history @ufc @danawhite— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) September 26, 2018
However, the UFC has denied there is a 165-pound division, with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto tweeting that he had spoken directly with UFC President Dana White regarding these plans.
Just spoke to Dana White on the phone, he denied any plans of a 165-pound title fight at Madison Square Garden. Says he’s still working on a main event for UFC 230.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) September 26, 2018
A number of UFC fighters have been vocal about the UFC introducing a 165-pound division which could potentially address some of the weight-cutting issues especially for fighters cutting weight for the 155-pound lightweight division who feel they would be too small for the 170-pound welterweight division.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
