DUSTIN POIRIER said he "would have a contract right now" to face Conor McGregor if the Irishman agreed to fight in 2021.

The UFC are planning to welcome McGregor back to the octagon on January 23 with a rematch against Poirier, who he beat at featherweight in 2014.

But the Irishman has demanded the headliner take place before the end of the year, causing talks to stall.

Poirier is yet to be officially offered the fight, and believes it is McGregor's reluctance to wait until the New Year which is holding up an agreement.

He told ESPN: "I think the Conor fight comes together, I really do.

"I believe I would have a contract right now if Conor said he would fight in 2021. He wants to fight in 2020.

"I haven't formally been offered anything.

"I think the Conor side of the deal might be the tougher part to get done, and once that's done, they might come to me. I don't know."

McGregor, 32, has not fought since January, knocking out Donald Cerrone, 37, in 40 seconds.

But he retired in June, having grown frustrated at a lack of activity during the coronavirus pandemic.

At the same time Justin Gaethje, 31, won the interim belt to set up a unification against Khabib Nurmagomedov, 32.

The lightweight pair headline UFC 254 in two weeks.

And Poirier – who beat Gaethje but lost to unbeaten Khabib – feels McGregor could be in a rush to put himself in line for title contention.

He said: "Something is coming. I know. I have a pretty good intuition. I haven't been wrong about things like that in the past.

"I think Conor wants to fight, and here's an opportunity to fight a guy who's No2 in the division.

"If his goal is to be the world champion, this fight makes a lot of sense."

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