Report: Poirier's team to appeal Alvarez no-contest, seek DQ win

Dustin Poirier's team will file an appeal with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in hopes of overturning a no-contest against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 211 to a disqualification win for Poirier, reports Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting.

The two lightweights were in the middle of a thrilling slugfest in Dallas on Saturday when Alvarez landed a series of illegal knees on Poirier, who was in a grounded position.

Alvarez later apologized for the strikes, which were deemed accidental by referee Herb Dean. The bout was ruled a no-contest, but it was unclear what may have confused Alvarez about the legality of the strikes.

The state of Texas has yet to implement recent changes to the Unified Rules of MMA that include the definition of a "grounded fighter." When Alvarez first started attacking Poirier with knees, Poirier had one hand on the mat, which would make him a legal target under the new rules. The third knee connected while Poirier had both hands and one knee on the mat, which is a clear infraction under either rule set.

Poirier tweeted after the fight asking to rematch Alvarez as soon as possible: