‘The Diamond” Dustin Poirier defeated Conor McGregor by 1st Round TKO (doctor stoppage) in the main event of UFC 264. Poirier was a -130-favorite leading into the highly anticipated third fight. Will these two fight again? Many think ‘yes.’
In a bout that was over soon after it began, McGregor opened the bout with a variety of kicks, implementing a well-rounded striking attack. McGregor and Poirier then exchanged hits with both fighters connecting. The tide turned when Poirier landed two overhand lefts to stun “The Notorious One,” causing McGregor to clinch to break up Poirier’s flow. Poirier then muscled McGregor to the cage, working for a takedown.
Surprisingly, McGregor attempted a guillotine submission, which Poirier fought off before securing a takedown. Poirier and McGregor traded elbow strikes on the ground with Poirier maintaining top position. Poirier’s ground-and-pound approach proved effective until McGregor managed to get back onto his feet late in the round. And that is when disaster struck for McGregor.
Poirier pounced on McGregor with a flurry of strikes to end the round — and ultimately — the fight. As McGregor stepped back from a failed strike attempt, he crumpled over in pain from what appeared to be a fractured ankle. Both the referee and overseeing doctor ruled that McGregor was unable to continue.
It was another in a string of notable wins that ended surprisingly. Top bantamweight prospect “Sugar” Sean O’Malley put on a striking clinic against newcomer Kris Moutinho, and O’Malley earned the TKO stoppage at 4:33 of the third (and final) round after dishing out 220+ significant strikes. Then there was welterweight Gilbert Burns, who earned a decision victory over Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. Burns utilized his superior grappling to edge out a win over a difficult opponent. And on the women’s side, Irene Aldana finished Yana Kunitskaya at 4:35 of the first round, continuing her climb up the women’s bantamweight rankings.
In perhaps the most bizarre ending of all, heavyweight Tai Tuivasa knocked out former NFL star Greg Hardy at 1:07 of the first round. Tuivasa celebrated by enjoying a “shoey” (a beer consumed from inside of a stranger’s shoe).
In UFC, has Dustin Poirier had “the last laugh” in this three-bout series against the Irishman? Probably not–at least not yet. McGregor’s quick exit by injury is the reason. UFC President Dana White, for one, insists that a 4th fight must happen. But until then (assuming Round #4 takes place), “The Diamond” shines brightly.
And Poirier has earned a shot at the lightweight crown Beware, Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira!
