Here's what should happen. The UFC should crown Poirier the champion. Now, I know the promotion doesn't like doing this, historically. They want the belt to be won in a fight, in an event they can promote. But here's what you do. You jump on the Poirier train right now. You capitalize on Nurmagomedov's decision to retire -- which will still be big news, once it becomes "officially" official -- and you come out and say, "Dustin is the guy. This is the best 155-pounder in the world. He beat Max Holloway twice. He knocked out Justin Gaethje. He beat former champions Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez. And he just knocked out the great Conor McGregor! We had to put a belt around this man's waist! He's the man!"

And by doing that, you do a couple of things. You put Poirier on a champion's contract, meaning he makes more in his next fight. You throw marketing weight behind him, and incentivize him to legitimize the belt, which is the best thing for the sport. And then you book McGregor vs. Diaz 3, knowing that fight sells, and you can turn around and sell the winner -- regardless of who it is -- as a future title contender for Poirier. Boom! Marc, tell me how good that is.

It's not a bad plan. I'd prefer they not hand Dustin the belt but rather pay him as if he had it to fight Charles Oliveira for the vacant title, with the additional promise that the winner's first defense will be against Diaz/Conor.