Conor McGregor claimed Dustin Poirier was doing a lot of talking ahead of their trilogy match-up.
We are less than six days away from Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 3, a fight that should settle who is the superior fighter between two men who share a long history.
The series of fights between them is knotted at 1-1 with McGregor being victorious the first time they met (in 2014) and Poirier having won out most recently this January. Both fighters know that the result at UFC 264 this Saturday will likely be the final chapter in their story.
This added dimension to the contest might explain why we are hearing a lot more trash talk out of both McGregor and Poirier this time around. For the second contest the stern words were at a minimum with both men seemingly willing to craft an air of respect around the fight.
Among the recent broadsides fired was McGregor mocking the possibility that Poirier may look to grapple him and Poirier responding that the Irishman reeked of insecurity.
McGregor recently hosted an Instagram Live session where he discussed the upcoming fight and all the chatter that is surrounding it.
“He talks some amount lately,” McGregor said of Poirier h/t MMA fighting). “He’s going to pay for that, that’s for sure. It’s not going to be nice.”
During the session McGregor also explained how he had adjusted the balance of his training regimen, scaling back on boxing and ramping up on mixed martial arts specific exercises. McGregor also signalled that he was taking the bout with Poirier very seriously (something his camp claimed was not the case earlier this year).
“I’ve got Tristan Kennedy with me, top nutritionist. Has me in the best shape of my life,” he said. “The most energy I’ve ever had coming into a weight cut. Weight is on point, it’s only what, a little bit over 24 hours before the fight. Where Abu Dhabi was almost three days. So that’s going to be in my favor and I’m more excited about it, excited to get on those scales.
“I’ve been busy flat out putting the work in. Full focus, fully immersed in mixed martial arts, it’s been nothing but mixed martial arts. So I’m ready to put on a show.”
UFC 264 goes down this Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The co-main event is a meeting of former UFC welterweight title challengers between Gilbert Burns and Stephen Thompson.