Dustin Poirier moved one step closer to a featherweight title shot by submitting Max Holloway in the first round at UFC 143.
Poirier took advantage of the inexperienced Holloway, dominating him on the ground before earning his second straight victory by submission.
Poirier initially had Holloway in an armbar, but the 20-year-old was able to worm his way out. However, it was only a matter of seconds before Poirier submitted him with a mounted triangle armbar.
It was Poirier‘s fifth submission victory, and the seventh fight that he finished in the first round. He improved to 12-1 (4-0 in UFC) and set himself up for higher-profile fights in the future.
Coming into UFC 143, Poirier was the 11th-ranked fighter in the featherweight division (according to Fight Matrix). He was originally supposed to fight No. 9 Erik Koch, but an injury forced Holloway to step in.
Although this win won’t have the same effect as if he’d beaten Koch, it was yet another reminder that the 23-year-old Poirier is for real. His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is reaching elite status and he can change a fight in an instant with his striking power.
Poirier already has impressive victories over Josh Grispi, Jason Young and Pablo Garza. With his continuous ascent up the featherweight rankings, it’s only a matter of time before he places himself in the discussion with with Kenny Florian and Chad Mendes as the top contenders for Jose Aldo’s throne.
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