LAS VEGAS – Dustin Poirier can relate to newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira . Having competed at both featherweight and lightweight himself, Poirier (28-6 MMA, 20-5 UFC) sees a lot of similarities between his path and Oliveira’s (31-8 MMA, 19-8 UFC) and has nothing but respect for the champion as he gears up to challenge him for the title. “He’s not just a guy in the division that happens to have the belt,” Poirier told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC 264 post-fight news conference. “He’s a guy who’s picked himself up off the canvas time and time again, fought through adversity through two weight classes (and) been in the UFC a decade. He’s not just a guy with the belt. He’s earned every ounce of gold he has around his waist, and I have nothing but respect for guys like that.
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