A pair of contests between top ranked lightweights have been added to the schedule including the return of Dustin Poirier and a number one contender bout at UFC 300.
UFC CEO Dana White announced the bookings in a video posted to social media on Sunday night.
Also Read: Cris Cyborg Claims Kayla Harrison Turned Fight Down
Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint Denis
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier will return to the Octagon against rising contender Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299. The bout will serve as a rare five round co-main event.
Dustin Poirier is hoping to rebound from a head kick knockout loss to fellow former interim champ Justin Gaethje for the BMF belt at UFC 291 in July. The Louisiana native has gone 4-2 since an unsuccessful title challenge against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019.
He then defeated Dan Hooker in one of 2020’s standout fights before a busy 2021 that saw Poirier conclude a trilogy with Conor McGregor with two wins and losing a bid for undisputed gold versus Charles Oliveira.
Poirier bounced back from that defeat with a submission win over Michael Chandler in the 2022 Fight of the Year.
Benoit Saint Denis will step in the cage riding a five fight win streak without any input from the judges. After coming up short in his UFC debut at welterweight, Saint Denis dropped to 155 pounds and found his stride.
The “God of War” most recently finished Matt Frevola with a first round head kick knockout at UFC 295 in November. That win wrapped up a stellar 2023 that included wins over Thaigo Moises and Ismael Bonfim.
UFC 299 is scheduled for March 9 at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan
Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will stand across from number four ranked Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300. According to White, the bout will determine the number one contender and next challenger for Islam Makhachev.
This will be Oliveira’s first fight since his first round TKO of Beneil Dariush in June. Just days before getting a chance to avenge his UFC 280 loss to Makhachev and reclaim the title he lost in October, “Do Bronx” suffered a cut during training and was forced to withdraw.
Before dropping the belt to Makhachev, Oliveira went on an 11-fight win streak which culminated in a championship win over Michael Chandler and successful defenses versus Gaethje and Poirier.
Arman Tsarukyan is enjoying a three-fight win streak and most recently earned his own first round stoppage of Dariush in a December Fight Night main event. Previously, the 27-year-old finished Joaquim Silva after winning a decision versus Damir Ismagulov.
UFC 300 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 13.
Also Read: Conor McGregor says he’ll make UFC return in June
