CALGARY – Dustin Poirier has the utmost respect for Eddie Alvarez as a fighter. However, he doesn’t feel the same way about him as a person.

Poirier (23-5 MMA, 15-4 UFC) and Alvarez (29-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) have been locked in a feud for more than 15 months after their first meeting at UFC 211 in May 2017 ended in a controversial no-contest. They will finally run it back Saturday at UFC on FOX 30, and “The Diamond” has some thoughts on the former UFC champion going into fight night.

“To me, Eddie Alvarez is one of the best lightweight mixed martial artists in history,” Poirier told reporters, including MMAjunkie, at UFC on FOX 30 open workouts Wednesday. “Look at his resume. I respect him as a fighter. As a person? Nah. Not so much. As a fighter I have to respect him. That resume, he’s had a great career, but I’m hitting my stride.”

UFC on FOX 30 takes place at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Poirier vs Alvarez headlines the FOX-televised portion of the card following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Although Poirier holds Alvarez in a high regard as a fighter, he said he doesn’t think that emotion goes both ways and intends to force change on that front inside the octagon.

“I don’t believe he does (respect me as a person),” Poirier said. “But I’ll make him.”

Aside from this being a key rematch in terms of the 155-pound title picture, Alvarez is betting on himself big going into UFC on FOX 30. He’s on the final fight of his contract and is rolling the dice on a big performance to cash in.

Poirier said that’s a bad idea.

“He believes he’s going to win apparently,” Poirier said. “Maybe the things he’s saying he really believes. Great, let’s find out who’s better. I’m excited about that. He’s a dangerous guy, more dangerous when he’s cornered, and he’s coming into this fight cornered. So let’s (expletive) go.”

Poirier plans on being the one to settle the score with Alvarez in decisive fashion. With that, he would improve to 8-1 with one no-contest since returning to the lightweight division several years ago.

Currently the title picture in the weight class is mucky at best. Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (26-0 MMA, 10-0 UFC) is idle at the moment as he waits for Conor McGregor’s (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) court situation to play out. Poirier doesn’t care about any of that, however, because he said he’ll cement himself as the one next in line at UFC on FOX 30.

“In my heart, I believe I go out there Saturday and put on a good performance, (and then) I’m fighting for the title,” Poirier said. “I don’t care what anybody says. People ask me, ‘Who told you that? Who confirmed that?’ I told myself that every fight since I’ve been fighting. Every night before I go to sleep: ‘I’m going to be the world champion.’ I told myself. That’s who told me.”

For more on UFC on FOX 30, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.