Dustin Poirier says a wardrobe malfunction was the difference in Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300

Dustin Poirier believes Charles Oliveira lost more than a round when he met Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300. In comments reported by Yahoo Sports, Poirier insisted a wardrobe malfunction during that fight became a deciding factor, arguing it cost Oliveira a win and shaped the outcome.

The belief matters not just because Oliveira-Tsarukyan is the kind of matchup that can carry storyline weight, but because rematches tend to magnify small margins. Poirier’s claim puts the spotlight on how quickly an athlete can be disrupted, and how that disruption can ripple into judges’ eyes, pace, and momentum, even when the underlying talent gap is unchanged.

According to the same report, UFC 331 is scheduled for Sept. 19 in Los Angeles, but the promotion had not officially announced the main event or co-main event at the time of publication. Still, reliable reports indicate Oliveira vs. Tsarukyan is expected to headline the card for the second time, creating a rare instance of a high-profile pairing meeting again within a short window.

Oliveira and Tsarukyan previously fought at UFC 300, and Tsarukyan earned the result in that first encounter, according to the Yahoo Sports account. With Poirier framing the earlier result as potentially influenced by an avoidable mishap, a rematch immediately takes on added stakes for Oliveira’s camp, even in the absence of official bout confirmation.

From a fight-game perspective, Poirier’s argument also illustrates a familiar reality in mixed martial arts: outcomes can hinge on moments that are not strictly about technique. A costume or equipment disruption can change how a fighter moves, how cleanly he can reset, and how quickly he can return to rhythm. Even if the interruption is brief, it can alter the flow enough to make later exchanges feel disconnected.

There is also a broader watch point for UFC 331 itself. If Oliveira-Tsarukyan is indeed positioned as a featured pairing, the UFC’s willingness to run it back suggests the organization sees enough unfinished business to justify revisiting a conclusion that already had a prominent stage at UFC 300. That, in turn, could shape how the rest of the card is built, since repeat matchups can help anchor marketing and narrative clarity while the promotion fills in remaining positions.

For now, readers should treat the rematch expectation as reported rather than confirmed, since the UFC had not yet made its official announcement for UFC 331’s headlining fights at publication time. The key next step is simple: once the promotion releases the official bout order, the discussion can shift from speculation and commentary to the concrete question of whether Oliveira can correct whatever he believes went wrong last time, and whether Tsarukyan can defend a storyline-built rematch on his own terms.