Tag: Dustin Poirier

Justin Gaethje Still Aims To Exact Revenge On Dustin Poirier

“The Highlight” is out for vengeance.

In 2018, Justin Gathje and Dustin Poirier threw down in an instant classic. The fight was close through the beginning, but as Gaethje slowed down, Poirier picked up the pace and earned a fourth-round stoppage. …

“The Highlight” is out for vengeance.

In 2018, Justin Gathje and Dustin Poirier threw down in an instant classic. The fight was close through the beginning, but as Gaethje slowed down, Poirier picked up the pace and earned a fourth-round stoppage. 

Speaking to the media ahead of his UFC 268 bout with Michael Chandler, Gaethje stated that he wants to run that match back. But should he end up meeting current champ Charles Oliveira instead, Gaethje thinks that would also make for an intriguing fight. 

“That’s my belief. I’m number two. Yeah, who else? There’s absolutely nobody else. So yeah, if not, we riot,” Gaetjhje said.

Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje vs Dustin Poirier Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

“I hope Poirier (is the champ) because I want to exact my revenge. That’s one of the most human traits, is wanting to exact revenge on somebody who has beaten you, especially in this sport. There’s not many times you get that opportunity, so yeah, that would be a great chance, but Oliveira brings such a crazy style to the cage, I think for me that would be a great matchup.”

It’s been just over a year since fans have seen Gaethje perform. The Arizonian’s last bout was a failed bid for lightweight gold against Khabib Nurmagomedov. That night, “The Eagle” looked nearly unstoppable as he walked down Gaethje and eventually submitted him in the second round. 

Since his own loss to Nurmagomedov in 2019, Poirier has been on a tear. “The Diamond” had an absolute banger with Dan Hooker in 2020 and has so far spent 2021 handing Conor McGregor a couple of back-to-back losses.

Who do you think would win a rematch between Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier?

Continue Reading Justin Gaethje Still Aims To Exact Revenge On Dustin Poirier at MMA News.

Conor McGregor Says His Leg Was Broke Before He Pulled Guard At UFC 264

Conor McGregorConor McGregor says the reason he pulled guard on Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 was because his leg was already broken. The Irishman squared off against Poirier back in July but unfortunately, the fight did not go his way. After enduring a tough first frame, McGregor rose to his feet for a final exchange with […]

Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor says the reason he pulled guard on Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 was because his leg was already broken.

The Irishman squared off against Poirier back in July but unfortunately, the fight did not go his way. After enduring a tough first frame, McGregor rose to his feet for a final exchange with ‘The Diamond’ before falling back to the floor with what appeared to be a broken ankle. The fight was waved off in between rounds and it was later confirmed that McGregor suffered a fractured tibia and fibula in the fight.

Conor McGregor Explains Why He Pulled Guard At UFC 264

Since then, fans and pundits have speculated about the exact moment McGregor suffered his nasty injury. The former dual-weight champion previously claimed he had stress fractures heading into the fight but that hasn’t been corroborated by anybody else with knowledge of the situation.

Last night, McGregor took to social media to admire the work he was able to do from the bottom position while also letting slip that his leg was actually “broke” before the UFC 264 main event hit the mat.

“Good angle. Can see the leg was broke before I even stood up,” McGregor wrote on Twitter. “It was broke before the guillotine even. It’s why I went for it. 4 shots to zero here in this clip to close the fight before the injury. This fight was going my way 100%. But big congrats lads hahaha ye right. Rats.

“Can see the weight in those upkicks he was eating here as well,” McGregor added.  “Which weren’t even the two heaviest upkicks I landed. Where was he going from open guard top here? He not like upkicks thru the face? Elbows down thru the crown? No like? Tough shit, see ya soon.”

McGregor continues to heal up following the injury. Last week, ‘Notorious’ was seen hitting pads for the first time since UFC 264 and the 33-year-old looked in great form while doing so.

‘Mystic Mac’ is expected to return to the Octagon in the summer of 2022. In the meantime, Dustin Poirier will square off against Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title on December 11 at UFC 269.

Do you think the reason Conor McGregor pulled guard was that his leg was compromised?

Michael Chandler Envisions Second Title Shot With Win Over Gaethje

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has his eyes still set on UFC gold ahead of his fight with Justin Gaethje.

Chandler is looking to get back on track in the lightweight title picture after losing the vacant lightweight title to Charles Oli…

Michael Chandler

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has his eyes still set on UFC gold ahead of his fight with Justin Gaethje.

Chandler is looking to get back on track in the lightweight title picture after losing the vacant lightweight title to Charles Oliveira at UFC 262. After a strong start to the fight, he was TKO’d in Round 2 in his first UFC title shot.

Chandler got off to a great start to his UFC tenure with a vicious knockout of Dan Hooker at UFC 257. His fight with Gaethje on the UFC 268 main card figures to be one of the most exciting bouts of the event.

Despite recently falling short of the belt, Chandler believes a win over Gaethje would propel him to face the Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier winner.

Michael Chandler Lost To Charles Oliveira At UFC 262

Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler
Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler, UFC 262

“I think it’s a title shot next,” Chandler said during a recent interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee. “Charles Oliveira hadn’t lost a round (since) 2017 until I came in and 10-8’d him and almost finished him in the first round of our title fight. I take full responsibility for that loss. I was pretty close to winning, but I didn’t win, so I gotta take that L like a man.

“So there are some options out there,” Chandler continued. “But, either way, [I have to] take care of business [on] November 6, and I think it’s gonna play itself out the way it needs to.”

Gaethje returns to the Octagon to face Chandler after about a year away from the sport. He last fought against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254, losing the lightweight title bout by second-round submission.

Chandler signed with the UFC early last year after a long run in Bellator that included a brief stint as the lightweight champion. He holds wins over big names such as Patricky Freire, Brent Primus, and Benson Henderson.

Oliveira and Poirier will fight for the lightweight title at UFC 269, and the winner of Gaethje vs. Chandler could certainly be next in line for the next shot at UFC gold.

What is your prediction for Michael Chandler vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 268?

Continue Reading Michael Chandler Envisions Second Title Shot With Win Over Gaethje at MMA News.

Islam Makhachev Hoping For Title Shot Next, Believes Dustin Poirier Will Become Champion

Islam MakhachevIslam Makhachev believes he is more than ready for a title shot. Makhachev made short of work of Dan Hooker as he quickly submitted him with a kimura lock in the first round of their lightweight contest at UFC 267 last night. The nature of the win as well as the fact that he is […]

Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev believes he is more than ready for a title shot.

Makhachev made short of work of Dan Hooker as he quickly submitted him with a kimura lock in the first round of their lightweight contest at UFC 267 last night.

The nature of the win as well as the fact that he is now on a nine-fight winning streak gives Makhachev more than a good case of getting the next title shot.

He certainly feels that way.

“I feel good because I show my level – I don’t know how many minutes (it took),” Makhachev said at the UFC 267 post-fight news conference (via MMA Junkie). “Now everybody going to talk like Hooker is an easy opponent, he don’t have grappling or wrestling. Hooker is tough. He beat a lot of wrestling, grappling guy took. He beat Gilbert Burns, many guys.

“I think I deserve now. When (Michael) Chandler beat Hooker they give him title fight. Why not (me)? I am ready, too. I’m here not to beat 15 people and fight. I have nine fights (in a row now).”

Makhachev Predicts Poirier Over Oliveira

Of course, it’s not set in stone.

Justin Gaethje battles Michael Chandler at UFC 268 next week and an emphatic victory for either could earn themselves the next crack at the title.

However, Makhachev still feels he has done more than enough to face the winner of the upcoming lightweight title fight between current champion Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 on December 11.

Should he get the opportunity, Makhachev also expects to be facing Poirier next.

“I think Poirier is gonna beat Oliveira,” Makhachev added. “Many things going to change in next couple months. That’s why I’m going to wait.”

Poirier: If Anyone Can Come Back From This Injury, McGregor Can

After the epic UFC 264 saga between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor, the former interim champion believes McGregor can overcome his career-threatening injuries. “The Diamond” finished McGregor twice in 2021, slamming their trilogy book shut. In their first chapter in 2014, McGregor showcased his precision power and demolished Poirier in the opening stanza. Years later, […]

Continue Reading Poirier: If Anyone Can Come Back From This Injury, McGregor Can at MMA News.

After the epic UFC 264 saga between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor, the former interim champion believes McGregor can overcome his career-threatening injuries.

“The Diamond” finished McGregor twice in 2021, slamming their trilogy book shut. In their first chapter in 2014, McGregor showcased his precision power and demolished Poirier in the opening stanza. Years later, the Irishman would go on to lose his next two fights to Poirier by knockout then doctor’s stoppage. Of course, one of the losses resulted in horrific damage to McGregor’s fibula and tibia.

The American Top Team fighter took a break from training for his upcoming UFC 269 title fight to speak with Valuetainment. Viewed by many to be bitter rivals, Poirier had nothing but respect for McGregor and his ability to bounce back from adversity.

“That injury, man, he broke the tibia and fibia, that’s gonna be a long road. Dustin Poirier said to Valuetainment. But look at all the things the guy’s accomplished. If anybody can come back from that, it’s him. I don’t hate any of these guys. He could. He’s a former multiple-time world champion, and he knows how to work. He has money. He has a team around him. So if he wants to build it back up, he has all the things to do that.”

Dustin Poirier can relate to overcoming career scares. The Louisianian was lucky enough to avoid surgery on his hip in 2018. However, despite the good fortune, the 32-year-old still needed some work done. To avoid going under the knife, the #1-ranked lightweight got stem cell injections in his hip. As Poirier remains one of the best 155-pound fighters on the planet, it looks like his therapy paid off.

Do you believe Conor McGregor will return better than he ever was?

Continue Reading Poirier: If Anyone Can Come Back From This Injury, McGregor Can at MMA News.

Dustin Poirier Names His Mount Rushmore Of MMA

Dustin Poirier divulges who would be engraved in his MMA Mount Rushmore.  Poirier has become a superstar in recent years. From his all-out wars with Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker to his rivalry with Conor McGregor, the American Top Team standout has become must-see TV whenever he steps into the Octagon. But who inspired “The […]

Continue Reading Dustin Poirier Names His Mount Rushmore Of MMA at MMA News.

Dustin Poirier divulges who would be engraved in his MMA Mount Rushmore. 

Poirier has become a superstar in recent years. From his all-out wars with Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker to his rivalry with Conor McGregor, the American Top Team standout has become must-see TV whenever he steps into the Octagon. But who inspired “The Diamond” to ascend to the top of the MMA world? Speaking to Valuetainment in a recent interview, Poirier detailed his favorite MMA athlete of all time. 

“I used to be a huge fan of Georges St-Pierre. He’s one of the guys who can do it all. And back around when he was really starting to rise up, a guy was a grappler, or a guy was a wrestler, or this guy’s a kickboxer.  He was one of the first guys who could really put everything together and was a complete mixed martial artist, world champion, spoke well, and I was a big fan of Georges.”

Georges St-Pierre
(via Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Not only is Poirier a fan of GSP, but he also believes that the Canadian would warrant a spot on a hypothetical Mt. Rushmore for MMA Fighters. When rounded out his monument to the greats, Poirier mentioned a few other fighters that often come up in G.O.A.T debates, including one of his former opponents.  

“Khabib’s up there, Fedor is up there. Fedor’s gotta be up there. Jon Jones has to be up there, too.”

In December, Dustin Poirier will look to build on his own legacy. The former UFC title contender will once again go for the gold when he meets Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.

The title bout will be Poirier’s first challenge since earning a TKO over Conor McGregor back in July. 

Who would be in your Mount Rushmore of MMA?

Continue Reading Dustin Poirier Names His Mount Rushmore Of MMA at MMA News.