Dustin Poirier has called himself "the champion" following his UFC 257 victory over Conor McGregor.
The American shocked McGregor in the early hours of Sunday morning when stopping him in the second round of their bout in Abu Dhabi.
Poirier could now fight lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov following the win, but believes he already is the champ.
Nurmagomedov announced his retirement from MMA last October, but could return to action in the coming months if UFC President Dana White gets his way.
Taking to Twitter this morning, Poiriier posted: "I am the champion."
Fellow lightweight fighter Tony Ferguson was quick to reply to the tweet.
He said: "Good Fight But You Dodged Me Kid. # SeeYouSoon -Champ."
Meanwhile, McGregor blamed extended spells away from the UFC for his shock defeat.
“It’s heart-breaking and hard to take,” said 32-year-old McGregor, who turned up to the post-fight press conference on crutches. “My leg is completely dead. It’s like an American football in my suit at the minute.
“If you put in the time in here, you’re going to get cosy in here and I just have to dust it off and come back and that’s what I will do. I need activity, you don’t get away with being inactive in this business.
“As long as you stay active and as long as you compete, things shape around you. You show up, you reap the rewards. That’s what happened for Dustin and it’s what’s happened against me.
“I’ll keep my eyes on the prize. Don’t write me off yet, I’ll make my adjustments and keep moving. I’ll go back, get healthy and I’ll re-prepare. I’ve got to a great place in my body physically and I’ll continue to grow that.”
