Tag: UFC 257

Eddie Alvarez: Conor McGregor Needs To Bring Out ‘Hungry And Motivated’ Version Of Himself

McGregorEddie Alvarez believes Conor McGregor might not be hungry or motivated enough to fight anymore. McGregor is coming off the first knockout defeat of his career after falling to Dustin Poirier in the second round of their UFC 257 lightweight headliner this past weekend. Many have been quick to decipher what went wrong with McGregor […]

McGregor

Eddie Alvarez believes Conor McGregor might not be hungry or motivated enough to fight anymore.

McGregor is coming off the first knockout defeat of his career after falling to Dustin Poirier in the second round of their UFC 257 lightweight headliner this past weekend.

Many have been quick to decipher what went wrong with McGregor — was it really the inactivity as he mentioned? Or was Poirier just the better fighter with the better game plan?

As far as Alvarez — who has faced both fighters — is concerned, it was a case of the latter.

“(Dustin) put a sprint on (Conor),” Alvarez said in a recent interview (via Middle Easy). “Mike Brown had a good game plan of chopping that lead leg down, they chopped that down really well. Then Dustin put that sprint on him that Dustin does so well.

“It caused panic, caused Conor to make mistakes. Conor wasn’t able to stay outside and be creative, and Dustin put him away. He has the power to do that. If anybody deserves the accolades and that kind of victory, and a big crowd, it’s Dustin Poirier. He’s fought the best of the best in that division, one after another, and he deserves that victory.”

However, there is one more factor for Alvarez and that’s whether McGregor is motivated enough to compete anymore.

After all, McGregor doesn’t need to fight — he’s only doing it because he loves it. However, it’s a different story when you have $100 million in the bank according to Alvarez.

That said, the ONE Championship star believes that fighter is still within the Irishman. He just needs to bring him out again.

“I think it’s difficult to fight with $100 million. It’s very simple to fight when you ain’t got a pot to piss in or a window to throw it off,” Alvarez explained. “You almost have to fight. It needs to become part of your character in order to be successful. You need to become a fighter.

“(Conor’s) done that, and he’s showed that he can do that and beat the best guys in the world when he’s hungry and motivated. He’s got to sit down, reevaluate some things, and find that guy again that he was. I think he’s inside of him, but it’s a matter of bringing him out, evoking that ego, evoking that guy again. It’s going to be his own choice and his own desire.”

Do you agree with Alvarez?

Dustin Poirier Gains 520,000 More Followers After UFC 257 Win Over Conor McGregor

PoirierIn the promotion’s return to its pay-per-view schedule for 2021, UFC 257 is reported to have drawn in 1.6 million pay-per-view purchases to see former interim champion Dustin Poirier rematch former two-weight world champion, Conor McGregor in a pivotal lightweight showdown. Drawing upwards of a million and a half purchases, the event would fall as […]

Poirier

In the promotion’s return to its pay-per-view schedule for 2021, UFC 257 is reported to have drawn in 1.6 million pay-per-view purchases to see former interim champion Dustin Poirier rematch former two-weight world champion, Conor McGregor in a pivotal lightweight showdown.

Drawing upwards of a million and a half purchases, the event would fall as the second biggest grossing pay-per-view event in promotional history, sitting above McGregor’s UFC 202 rematch with Nate Diaz in August of 2016, and below the October 2018 grudge matchup between Khabib Nurmagomedov and McGregor, which drew a jaw-dropping 2.4 million pay-per-view buys. All in all, a majorly successful return to flagship events for the UFC.

Seeing his stock rise massively on the night, former interim titleholder, Poirier exacted his revenge over McGregor — putting right a six-year-old wrong and becoming the first to finish the Dubliner with strikes in his professional mixed martial arts career via a second-round combination at the fence.  

Employing an inch-perfect gameplan to avenge his 2014 defeat to McGregor, American Top Team staple and Mike Brown product, Poirier mixed in some wrestling early in the opening round, before finding his target time and time again with a barrage of crunching calf kicks, drawing some significant swelling to McGregor’s southpaw lead.

Over the course of the second-round exchanges, Poirier landed the debilitating calf kick again on cue, before circling from the fence via a counter check right hook and spinning McGregor on his heels. Unloading with a lengthy flurry of hooks, a particularly well-placed right hand sat McGregor down at the fence, before Poirier separated him from consciousness with a ground strike. 

Despite the defeat to Poirier, McGregor gained upwards of 439,000 followers across his social media platforms, however, the former trumped the latter in that aspect as well — gaining a staggering 520,000 followers from his combined social outlets — according to a report from data analysts, Nielsen Sports.

Poirier, who used his platform during his post-fight interview with UFC commentator, Jon Anik to highlight his and his wife, Jolie’s charity, The Good Fight Foundation are in the process of receiving a half a million-dollar donation from McGregor to the charity, as Poirier hopes to build a gym facility for the less fortunate. 

With the victory over McGregor, Lousiana native, Poirier puts himself in prime position to challenge for the UFC lightweight championship in his next Octagon walk, claiming the number-one rank in the official 155-pound pile earlier this week.

UFC president, Dana White initially suggested a possible vacant title pairing of Poirier and UFC 257 co-headliner, ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler, however, the former has distanced himself from the potential clash — claiming Chandler needs to lay out a body of work at lightweight before fast-tracking his way to a title shot.

Poirier, who seemed rather coy in regards to what’s next for him, briefly detailed how a trilogy, rubber-match with McGregor would be something that interested him, as well as a rebooked matchup against Stockton favourite, Diaz — after he was forced from a UFC 230 booking due to a hip injury. 

Coach: Conor McGregor Regressed & Khabib Would’ve Smashed Him

Coach Javier Mendez believes Conor McGregor was fortunate that it was not Khabib Nurmagomedov standing across from him at UFC 257. Dustin Poirier was able to avenge his 2014 loss to Conor McGregor by handing McGregor the first TKO loss of his career. P…

Coach Javier Mendez believes Conor McGregor was fortunate that it was not Khabib Nurmagomedov standing across from him at UFC 257. Dustin Poirier was able to avenge his 2014 loss to Conor McGregor by handing McGregor the first TKO loss of his career. Poirier implemented a stellar gameplan and systemically broke down Conor McGregor’s right […]

Rankings Update – Poirier Moves To #1, McGregor Drops From Top-Five, Chandler Debuts At #4

PoirierFollowing last weekend’s flagship pay-per-view event return for the organization — UFC 257 brought with it a rather significant shuffle among the lightweight top-five rankings.  Featuring two high-profile 155-pound pairings, former three-time Bellator lightweight best, ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler made his long-awaited promotional bow as he clashed with Kiwi striker, Dan ‘The Hangman’ Hooker in a […]

Poirier

Following last weekend’s flagship pay-per-view event return for the organization — UFC 257 brought with it a rather significant shuffle among the lightweight top-five rankings. 

Featuring two high-profile 155-pound pairings, former three-time Bellator lightweight best, ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler made his long-awaited promotional bow as he clashed with Kiwi striker, Dan ‘The Hangman’ Hooker in a co-main event slot. 

Taking major focus in a headlining tilt, a lightweight rematch six-years in the making, former featherweight rivals, Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier and ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor closed the curtain on the promotion’s pay-per-view debut for 2021. 

Debuting at #4 in the promotion’s official rankings as per Canadian outlet, TSN, Missouri native Chandler made a massive statement in his promotional bow, becoming just the second competitor in mixed martial arts history to stop Hooker with strikers.

Circling the Auckland native onto a fierce right hand for the opening couple of minutes, Chandler eventually sprung with his straight shot, dropping Hooker before swarming with a series of ground strikes. Calling for current undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov and event headliners, Poirier and McGregor afterwards in a Ric Flair-esque promo, Chandler lands a #4, while Hooker, suffering his second straight loss drops to #8 from his #6 rank.

Dropping out of the lightweight top-five via his first career loss via strikes, former two-weight world champion, McGregor loses his #4 rank to Chandler, assuming the #6 rank at 155-pounds, below former interim champion, Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson.
Exacting a masterful gameplan to draw his duo of fights with McGregor to one win apiece, Poirier targeted the Dubliner’s southpaw lead with a series of punishing calf kicks, rendering him largely immobile in the second-round before stopping the Crumlin native with a damaging combination at the fence. 

With the victory, Poirier leaps above recent interim champion and one-time foe, Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje into the #1 rank at lightweight — primed for a title shot in his next Octagon outing, interim, vacant or otherwise. 

Retaining his #3 rank at 155-pounds despite the shuffle, surging Sao Paulo submission specialist, Charles ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira is himself poised to throw his name into a vacant title discussion alongside Poirier, after UFC president, Dana White announced that things aren’t necessarily looking upwards for fans clamouring for a retirement snapping return of Nurmagomedov. 

McGregor’s drop to the #6 rank marks the first time he’s featured outside the promotion’s top-five rankings since his initial UFC 178 victory over Poirier back in September of 2014, before he went on to stop Dennis Siver, and then Chad Mendes in an interim title clash, before a thirteen-second unification title win over Jose Aldo.

Despite the promotion’s floated idea of a title matchup between Poirier and Chandler, the former wants to see the latter establish a body of work at 155-pounds before entertaining a title clash with him. For Team McGregor, they hope to secure a vacant title rubber-match against Poirier as soon as May to round out their now level on score trilogy, while Poirier has already called to be crowned the undisputed lightweight champion following his win. 

UFC 257 Medical Suspensions: Conor McGregor Faces Lengthy Layoff

The UFC 257 medical suspensions are in, and if they hold up, it could be a long time before we see Conor McGregor compete again. Following his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257, Conor McGregor will now be sidelined for six months and cannot have contac…

The UFC 257 medical suspensions are in, and if they hold up, it could be a long time before we see Conor McGregor compete again. Following his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257, Conor McGregor will now be sidelined for six months and cannot have contact training for 30 days. A six-month layoff would […]

UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor Reportedly Sells 1.6 Million Pay Per Views

By all appearances, UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor was a smashing success. Per usual, Conor McGregor has delivered. He may not have come away from his UFC 257 main event against Dustin Poirier with a victory, but he spearheaded another big win for the U…

By all appearances, UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor was a smashing success. Per usual, Conor McGregor has delivered. He may not have come away from his UFC 257 main event against Dustin Poirier with a victory, but he spearheaded another big win for the UFC, with the first pay per view of the year reportedly […]