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UFC 236 takes place at April 13 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The event airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and UFC Fight Pass.

Poirier admits he didn’t see the Holloway bout coming. He said he envisioned potential matchups against Ferguson, Conor McGregor or even Al Iaquinta, but the promotion decided it was time to run it back with “Blessed.”

The first encounter between Poirier and Holloway took place at UFC 143 in February 2012, and both men were short on experience at the time. Holloway was a 20-year-old making his UFC debut on short notice, and then-23-year-old Poirier was able to give him his first loss with a first-round submission.

Both men have evolved tremendously since that contest, with Poirier becoming an established contender at featherweight before doing the same at lightweight, while Holloway became a dominant champion and one of the top pound-for-pound athletes in the sport.

It’s a rematch, but Poirier said it doesn’t necessarily feel that way given the time between bouts.

Dustin Poirier defeated Max Holloway in 2012 at UFC 143. (Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports)

“We’re both completely different people,” Poirier said. “We’re both men now. By the time we fight it’s going to be over seven years since we first fought. We were both kids. Seven years fighting in the top organization in the world is a lifetime. There’s lot of guys out there who wish they could’ve fought at this level for seven years. We’re relatively both still young. I think we’re going to come into this fight over 40 fights of UFC experience between the two of us. This is going to be a very high-level fight. This guy is an established world champion – defending, reigning world champion.

“I have a lot of respect for the guy. But I beat him once when we were kids. This is a completely different fight, but I’m confident I can do it again. I’m excited it’s at this time in his career. He’s hit a great stride, he’s defending his belt, and people are talking about how great his striking is and his overall game. He just had a beautiful performance against Brian Ortega. People expect that performance out of him every time, and it will really give me an opportunity and a stage to show what I’m capable of, and I’m just excited to show everybody how good I am.

“On the highest level, on the highest stage, with the most eyes watching, I’m going to show everyone how great I am.”

It’s hard to argue with the quality of a Poirier vs. Holloway rematch. However, the circumstances around the contest have generated a mixed reaction. Interim title belts are a controversial aspect of the UFC, especially given the frequency with which the promotion has utilized them in recent years.

None of that bothers Poirier, though. He is aware there’s more than one instance of interim titles failing to meet their intended design, but Poirier is confident winning at UFC 236 would lead to a unification contest against Nurmagomedov, likely in November. He just knows he can’t give any reason for the company to potentially pass him over.

“It’s going to come down to me being ready for the opportunity again,” Poirier said. “I’m going to need to be ready to rock. A lot of responsibility is going to come with that belt, and I understand that. I’m going to need to be by the phone, ready to go when the champ comes back and is ready and unify the belt. That’s just what we’re going to do. I’m going to enjoy that weekend, enjoy that next week and then get back to normal life, which is this. I’ll be ready for that when the call comes.”

Poirier said he’s not current focused on what will come after UFC 236. He knows a monumental task is at hand with Holloway, and he intends on putting on a shining performance – then making his “biggest” charitable donation to date afterward.

If the UFC belt is put around his waist at UFC 236, Poirier said no one will be able to convince him he’s not world champion.

“This means everything to me,” Poirier said. “When I get that belt wrapped around my waist, it solidifies – well in this day in age (you never know) – it should solidify that I’m going to unify the belt with Khabib in the next fight. It says I’m the best in the world, but I still have a lot more work to do after that. It’s not done yet. It helps me move forward in my career where I want to go.

“I know a lot of people are going to (expletive) on it because that’s the way people are. People suck. They’re going to say, ‘You’re not the champion.’ But let me tell you what: After 40 fights, after 12 years of struggling and climbing back from adversity, after all the sacrifices I’ve made with my family, that my wife has made because of the ups, the downs. When they wrap that around my waist, I promise you not a person’s opinion in the world is going to matter. I’m going to be the world the champion.”

For more on UFC 236, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.