Dustin Poirier has a warning for Nate Diaz if he returns to the UFC after Jake Paul fight

Dustin Poirier insists he will beat up Nate Diaz if he ever sets foot in a UFC octagon again.

Poirier is the main event with Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 which takes place in Utah this weekend and was asked about his rival, who left the promotion in 2022.

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For Poirier, the Gaethje contest may be seen as a warm up to a potential showdown with Diaz, who will face Jake Paul in the ring on August 5.

Diaz has been inactive since September with the 38-year-old most recently headlining UFC 279 when he submitted Tony Ferguson with a fourth round guillotine choke.

After that victory, Diaz left the organisation, but the crowd favourite has been tipped to return.

Poirier and Diaz were set to fight at UFC 230 at Maddison Square Garden in 2018, however terms could not be agreed.

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But with the long-running rivalry still simmering, Poirier has reopened the door to a potential showdown.

Speaking ahead of UFC 291, Poirier said: “Like I always say, I don’t look too far ahead and book myself in fights that aren’t even realistic or a possibility, until other things happen.

"If he (Nate Diaz) comes back, I’ll beat him up.”