Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier 2 LIVE: The Notorious is sensationally KNOCKED OUT in the second round as the American gains the sweetest revenge on his old rival at UFC 257
- Dustin Poirier KO’d Conor McGregor to pour cold water on his UFC return
- The former two-weight champion returned to the octagon after a year out
- However, it was Poirier who stole the show with a superb knockout in the 2nd
- McGregor’s defeat is a huge setback to his hopes to regain the lightweight title
Dustin Poirier vowed to shock the world and he did just that as the Diamond poured cold water on Conor McGregor’s UFC comeback with a vicious second round knockout victory.
McGregor, 32, made his highly-anticipated return after a year out of the action to take on Poirier for a second time, having defeated the Louisiana native at UFC 178 in 2014.
The Irishman pledged to secure a first round knockout, as he had achieved seven years ago, but this time he promised to finish the former interim lightweight champion inside 60 seconds.
Dustin Poirier has knocked out Conor McGregor to send a shock through the lightweight ranks
The Diamond vowed to upset the odds in his highly-anticipated rematch with the Irishman
And having survived McGregor’s typical fast start, Poirier got in his groove and found his range
However, Poirier, 32, rode the expected storm in the first round, landing an early takedown before exchanging rapid exchanges against the fence as the pair repeatedly switched positions.
The American consistently attacked McGregor’s lead right leg, which worsened as the opening five minutes unfolded.
Having established his range, Poirier slipped McGregor’s fluent punches and upped the tempo, taking centre of the ring and unleashing a flurry of strikes that the Notorious simply had no answer for.
Poirier snapped the Irishman’s head back with a beautiful uppercut, sending McGregor sprawling before following up with a strong right hook that left the former two-weight world champion in a daze.
The American upped the tempo in the second and blitzed McGregor with a flurry of strikes
Only seconds later did referee Herb Dean step into wave off the contest and hand the Diamond a monumental victory to shake up the lightweight division.
Poirier’s victory moves him into prime position to fight for UFC gold once more, having lost to the all-conquering Khabib Nurmagomedov back in September 2019.
‘I’m happy man but I’m not surprised, I put in the work,’ he told Jon Anik in his post-fight interview.
‘First off I gotta say Conor has taken this result very professionally. [We are] one and one, maybe we have to do it again. I’m happy with the place where I’m at. The win is great, but I’m fighting for bigger things back home with my good fight foundation. I love my wife, I love my city and I love my foundation.
‘The goal was to be technical and pick my shots. to not brawl at all. I can box very technically but i have a tendency of going crazy and getting in trouble. Max Holloway thinks he is the best boxer but i have beat the kid twice. Nothing against the kid.
‘We’ll see [about a future title shot], I felt like this was a title fight. I am the champion.’
McGregor’s defeat represents a huge setback to his plans to regain his lightweight title. The Irishman was hoping a victory over Poirier would set up a rematch with arch rival Nurmagomedov, having lost to the Dagestani in October 2018.
Saturday’s loss, though, leaves questions over his championship prospects.
‘That low calf kick was very good, my leg was dead and I wasn’t as comfortable as I wanted to be,’ he told Jon Anik.
‘Dustin is some fighter. I have to dust it off and come back and that is what I will do. I need activity guys come on, you don’t get away with being inactive in this business.
‘I’ll take my licks, I am gutted man I put in so much work. It’s a tough one to swallow. I would have liked to represent my team better but i’m gonna chill with my kids and that is it.’
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