Dustin Poirier discusses how he is "close to being the greatest" if he were to defeat Islam Makhachev: "I'm knocking on the door"

Dustin Poirier recently shared his thoughts on how a potential victory over Islam Makhachev could solidify his place among the greatest fighters in the lightweight division.

'The Diamond' is gearing up to challenge the reigning 155-pound champion in the headlining bout of UFC 302. The highly anticipated event is scheduled to take place this Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The 35-year-old American is widely regarded as one of the most esteemed and respected athletes in the UFC. Known for delivering thrilling performances, Poirier has built an impressive resume, securing victories over former champions like Max Holloway (twice), Conor McGregor (twice), Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis, and others.

Despite his illustrious 30-fight UFC career, Poirier still seeks the elusive undisputed world title. He is confident that his third attempt at the championship could be the charm.

During a recent interview with ESPN, 'The Diamond' expressed that a win over Makhachev would cement his legacy as one of the greatest fighters in the division:

"I have checked every single box except the one that says, 'undisputed champion.' That's a box I want checked. All the other boxes got checked on the way to this goal. It's a byproduct of me trying to be the best in the world. I'm still chasing that."

He added:

"I think I'm knocking on the door. If I win this undisputed belt on June 1, you can stack my resume against any other 155-pound fighter in the world. I think I'm close to being the greatest."

Poirier punched his ticket to the title shot by securing a second-round stoppage victory over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299 in March. The impressive win marked a comeback from his knockout loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 last July.

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Islam Makhachev applauds Dustin Poirier's career, hopes for 'The Diamond' to continue fighting post-UFC 302

Rumors are swirling that Dustin Poirier may hang up his gloves following his bout against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. 'The Diamond' has openly admitted to contemplating retirement for several years, hinting that at this stage in his career, any fight could be his last.

At Wednesday's UFC 302 media day, Makhachev lauded Poirier's illustrious career and expressed his desire for his opponent to continue fighting even after their clash on June 1:

"I hope he doesn't retire after this fight. I think he is one of the biggest names in the sport. That's why I respect him, I respect him because he has a lot of crazy fights in this sport. I'm happy to beat someone who has a big name like Dustin. For my legacy, it's going to be the biggest name on my list."

Check out Islam Makhachev's comments below (5:15):