Dustin Poirier, Benoit Saint Denis to be UFC 299 co-main event

The UFC has added a major matchup between Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint Denis to its March pay-per-view, UFC CEO Dana White announced Sunday evening.

The 155-pound contest will serve as the co-main event of UFC 299 on March 9 in Miami. It will consist of five rounds, instead of the traditional three-round length for non-title fights.

Poirier (29-8) hasn't fought since suffering a headbutt against Justin Gaethje in July. The former interim lightweight champion has made just one appearance in consecutive years, having fought three times in 2021. Poirier is the No. 3 ranked lightweight in the UFC, behind champion Islam Makhachev and No. 1 contender Charles. Oliveira and Gaethje. He is 4-2 in his last six fights, including two victories against Conor McGregor.

Originally from Louisiana, Poirier fights for American Top Team in South Florida.

This is a big opportunity for Saint Denis (13-1), who will try to climb into the top 10 for the first time in his UFC career. The French lightweight is on a five-fight win streak, having dropped out of his UFC debut in 2021. He has finished all five of his UFC wins, three by knockout and two by submission.

A bantamweight title fight between Sean O'Malley and Marlon “Chito” Vera is expected to headline UFC 299 at the Kaseya Center.