MILWAUKEE – When UFC lightweight Kevin Lee thinks about the field of contenders in his division, Dustin Poirier doesn’t make the cut.

“Dustin, to me, is not a serious competitor in this division,” Lee told reporters in advance of his rematch with Al Iaquinta at UFC on FOX 31, which takes place Saturday at Fiserv Forum and airs live on FOX.

Of course, Lee (17-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) has said such things before. But now that Poirier (24-5 MMA, 16-4 UFC) appears to be in the mix for a title shot, he’s got an interest in voicing his opinion.

With Poirier potentially tapped as the next opponent for Conor McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) – assuming the ex-champ doesn’t get sidelined too long by a suspension for his behavior at UFC 229 – Lee shrugs at the matchup.

“If Conor’s going to take a step backward and fight a man he already knocked out in the first round at 145 (pounds) – if he needs that steps backward to get himself feeling good again so that they can try and make some more money off him, then that’s on him,” Lee said.

“But I put Poirier in another category. He’s in the more ‘fun fight’ category with Nate Diaz and some of these older guys that are just out there to have fun. I’m out here chasing titles.”

Lee is interested in the biggest fights possible if he’s able to avenge a loss to Iaquinta, and he’s only got a couple of names in mind: champ Khabib Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA, 11-0 UFC) and ex-champ Tony Ferguson (24-3 MMA, 14-1 UFC).

The current champ could meet Ferguson next depending on his sanction for the melee at UFC 229. Lee is gunning for the winner of that fight, and if McGregor wants to take a detour, that’s his business.

“I’m not taking it as no threat, no matter what (UFC President) Dana (White) says.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.