By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Dustin Poirier was the underdog in his mega-fight with Conor McGregor. However, the Louisiana native — who now calls Florida his home — had his hand raised in the end.
Poirier shocked the former double champ at UFC 257 at Etihad Arena in the United Arab Emirates. The American Top Team fighter won in a second-round knockout.
“I’m happy, but I’m not surprised,” Poirier. “I put in the work. We’re 1-1 and maybe we have to do it again. I’m happy with the man I see in the mirror.”
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With the win, he evened the series with McGregor. The Irishman won the first bout in September 2014.
Poirier has now won two straight fights. He has improved to 27-6 in his MMA career.
He picked up his first TKO (punches) win in nearly four years. Before Saturday night, his last TKO (punches) win came over Eddie Alvarez in July 2018.
Since the 2014 loss to McGregor, Poirier has gone 11-2-1 in his last 14 fights. With the win, he may be the next opponent for Khabib Nurmagomedov if he comes out of retirement.
Nurmagomedov said he would be willing to fight again following the death of his father in July 2020. And he was looking at fighters in the UFC 257 card.
Both Poirier and McGregor have lost to the undefeated fighter. In September 2019, Nurmagomedov defeated Poirier by submission (rear-naked choke) at UFC 242.
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In October 2018, Nurmagomedov defeated McGregor.
McGregor has lost two of his last three bouts. His lone win came in a TKO (head kick and punches) at UFC 246 against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in January 2020.
The loss drops one of the superstars of the UFC to a 22-5 record. This was his first loss by knockout after four losses by submission.
Since his loss to Nate Diaz in March 2016, he’s 3-2 in his last five fights. Despite the loss, McGregor would like to fight again in 2021.
With the loss, he’ll have to rebound as UFC President Dana White will have to figure out what to do next with him.
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