Dustin Poirier sees some issues in UFC PPV’s moving to ESPN+

The UFC made a shocking announcement just over a week ago: all pay-per-views will now be sold through ESPN+ for Americans.

Immediately after the news, many fans and fighters took to Twitter to question the move and how it would impact PPV buys.

Those are the kind of questions Dustin Poirier has, as he will be the main event of the first PPV to be exclusively bought through ESPN+.

Ultimately, Poirier isn’t sure if it is a positive move for the sport and already sees some issues in it. However, he is confident the UFC and ESPN will make it work.

“I guess time will tell,” Poirier said to MMA Junkie. “Any kinks they have, any problems they have, they’ll fix them because they want to make as much money as possible. So whatever problems come up they’re going to get it fixed. But for me I can see problems like with people in Louisiana, like my father-in-law. These guys don’t have smart TVs and stuff like that. They’re not buying the app and signing up for ESPN+. It’s complicated for them. I don’t know what they’re going to do, but I’m sure they’ll figure it out.”

That being said, Poirier knows he can’t waste energy worrying about things like this. Rather, he is focusing on his fight against Max Holloway on April 13. He already beat Holloway once before and is confident he has what it takes to win again.

“Thinking about that moment is my driving force,” Poirier said. “That was my goal from the first time I laced up those gloves, was to be the best. I have the opportunity to make that a reality, to raise my hands up and get a gold belt wrapped around my waist and say I’m the best that night.

“These guys can have the rest of the year. I just need that 25 minutes. Max can have those other 364 days. April 13 I just need to be better than him, and I’m positive I can do it, and I’m going to be the victor, and I’m going to be the world champ.”

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/28/2019