Poirier says he won't fight Ferguson at UFC 254

A lightweight bout between Tony Ferguson and Dustin Poirier is no longer on the table for UFC 254.

"UFC and I didn't come to terms," Poirier told ESPN's Ariel Helwani on Thursday. "I will not be fighting on Oct. 24."

Ferguson versus Poirier had been in the works for the better part of the last month. In August, UFC president Dana White said the fight would "probably" happen at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

"El Cucuy" had reportedly verbally agreed to the contest as of Wednesday, but there was a holdup on Poirier's side. He was waiting to "be compensated."

"The Diamond" recently traveled to Florida from his home in Lafayette, Louisiana to start his training camp at American Top Team in hopes the Ferguson bout would be finalized. He'll return to Lafayette next week, Helwani added.

Poirier said he's unsure whether the UFC will attempt to book the Ferguson clash for a later date.

A 155-pound title bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje will headline UFC 254.

Poirier is coming off a "Fight of the Year" candidate against Dan Hooker, which he won via unanimous decision in June.

Ferguson most recently lost to Gaethje via fifth-round TKO in the UFC 249 main event in May. That bout was for the interim title and the right to challenge Nurmagomedov.