Poirier: McGregor is disrespecting the whole featherweight division

Dustin Poirier has appointed himself the sole defender of the featherweight division, and as such, it is (apparently) his duty to protect the 145-pounders from the scourge of Conor McGregor.

McGregor's innate ability to move the needle and capture the imagination of fight fans despite his relative inexperience in the Octagon is a sore spot for Poirier, who has decided to make it his personal and professional mission to derail the Irishman's hype train. 

"Right off the bat I’ve been fired up about this guy," Poirier said on The MMA Hour on Monday (via MMAFighting). "I’ve been in this division since the WEC merged. I’ve paid my dues, and I’ve stayed quiet and busted my ass, day in, day out, won the fights I needed to win, and I’ve had some tough fights. I feel I need to be up there. I need to be up there where people are talking about me. [McGregor’s] name and the featherweight title should never come out of anybody’s mouth. I can’t believe the hype he’s getting."

As a top-10 featherweight, Poirier admits he should be exchanging blows with the Frankie Edgars and Cub Swansons of the world, but is more than willing to make an exception and move down the ladder for a chance to shut McGregor's mouth.

"I don’t think I’m going to need three rounds to do it, or five rounds to do it, so it can happen wherever the UFC wants it to happen, but like I said, I want the big fights, the top five guys," he said. "I want the title. But these hands are working hands, and sometimes you’ve got to get them dirty. And I’ll go to the back of the line to clean this guy up."

As for whether or not he think's McGregor has ever faced a stern task in his UFC career, Poirier was quick to point out that his nemesis hasn't even broken into the division's upper echelon.

"No, no. Not even top ten. I will be the first real fight he’s ever been in."