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Motivation has never come in short supply for Dustin Poirier.



The push for something greater has inspired the Louisiana native for as long as he can remember, but that scope has narrowed into a sharpened focus over the past 17 months. Poirier's confidence and clarity have never been higher, and those elements firing in sync have allowed him to write what is arguably the most impressive chapter of his career.



Poirier is currently in the midst of a four-fight winning streak that has made him a major player in the stacked ranks of the UFC's lightweight division, and he has no intention of slowing down until championship gold is around his waist.



The 27-year-old fighter will have his next opportunity to further momentum when he faces Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 94 in Hidalgo, Texas.



"It's time to start making some money and put my name in the conversation for that title," Poirier said. "I've never been a better fighter than I am right now, and I'm only going to keep improving. I feel like I can beat anyone in my division, and I'm willing to go out there and prove it. I have no issue with that.



"Each step I take, I'm going to make a statement until I'm where I want to be. The next statement will be made on September 17. I'm going to go in there, whip Michael Johnson's ass then get onto the next one."



Both Poirier and Johnson are prominent faces in the new wave of talent that has shaken up the 155-pound division for the past year. They also share another similarity in the place they call home.



South Florida is an insulated region in the MMA sphere, and American Top Team and the Blackzilians camps are the largest fish in that pond. The rivalry between the two gyms has been well documented, but Poirier isn't allowing any unnecessary storylines into his headspace.



"[Johnson] could be across the street or on the other side of the planet," he said. "It doesn't matter to me. My focus is locked on what I have to do and what he's doing or where he is doesn't even cross my mind. My focus is on what I have to do to get the win and taking another step toward what I have set out to accomplish."



Poirier's current run has made him a rising star in the lightweight division, and that notion is validated by the UFC selecting him to headline an event in a new market. The promotion has visited the state of Texas on several occasions, but the event on Sept. 17 marks the organization's first stop in Hidalgo.



The opportunity presented isn't lost on Poirier, but he also believes the placement is long overdue.



"I understand how the game works, and that's been a big part of how I've shaped my focus," Poirier said. "I haven't headlined a card since 2012, and I've had a lot of fights in those four years. It's my time now. I know what's on the table, and it's on me to make the most of it. If I keep winning fights and doing it in exciting fashion, I move forward."



In addition to the rising stakes surrounding Poirier's career, his life outside of fighting has experienced some changes as well. Poirier and his wife Jolie recently welcomed their newborn daughter to the world, and a man who already had to fight for everything good in his life suddenly had something even greater to fight for.



"It makes me want it all even more," Poirier said. "My family means everything to me and my motivation has never been higher."