Tag: UFC 257

Sitting at 1-1 from their two Octagon outings against each other, former two-weight world champion, ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor and Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier have both voiced their interest in a potential rubber-match in the future, however, the former hopes to secure the trilogy immediately — with a yet to be vacated lightweight title up for grabs. 

Avenging a September 2014 knockout loss to McGregor at Saturday’s UFC 257 event, former interim 155-pound titleholder, Poirier put himself in prime contention for a title shot in his next Octagon outing, becoming the first competitor in professional mixed martial arts to stop McGregor with strikes. 

Implementing a brutal, stiff calf kick approach, Poirier landed upwards of eleven gruelling shots to McGregor’s southpaw lead, rendering it almost useless before the midway point of the second frame. Backing the Dubliner up to the fence via a combination, Poirier stunned the former featherweight and lightweight champion, before scoring a massive right-hook knockdown — finishing with a subsequent right hand which knocked McGregor out.

Whilst UFC president, Dana White floated the possibility of a vacant title matchup between Poirier and co-headlining winner, ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler, the former distanced himself from a pairing with the new arrival, claiming Chandler needs to lay out a body of work under his new banner before fighting for a title. 

A couple of names dropped by Poirier was, of course, McGregor, and once scheduled UFC 230 foe, Nate Diaz. Both Poirier and Diaz have shared the Octagon twice with McGregor, and the two, respectively hold 1-1 records against the Crumlin native.
Hoping to get back that defeat to Poirier, Straight Blast Gym head coach, John Kavanagh spoke with ESPN MMA reporter, Ariel Helwani on Monday afternoon, noting Team McGregor’s plans to secure a rubber-match with Poirier before the summer.

“He’s (Conor McGregor’s) already harassing everybody to get the rematch [with Dustin Poirier],” Kavanagh said. “So we would love the rematch. I don’t think Dustin is against that [a third fight]. Yeah, if we could get the rematch before the summer that’d be amazing. If it’s not to be, well then — I guess I don’t really know. Maybe he drifts off into the boxing side so, if the MMA community could help me here and get behind me and pester the UFC to give him another fight sooner rather than later, so I don’t lose him for six months to boxing, I’d appreciate that.“

Kavanagh detailed how because the fact Poirier vs. McGregor II didn’t feature any title up for grabs, and with the score sitting level at one-a-piece, it makes sense to round out a trilogy with championship spoils on the line next.

“That’s the big drive — that’s the story [a third fight for a title],” Kavanagh said. “It’s 1-1, one-a-piece, they’re right up there in the rankings, they’re very popular fighters the two of them. I think they’ve a beautiful matchup, I think — stylistically, it’s beautiful to watch I’d love to see lots and lots of rounds of the two of them.“

“Dustin’s obviously riding high with confidence now. And with the more experience and the more weight, he took some of those shots and I’m sure he feels — I’m sure his confidence is super high at the moment. We have to fix that technique with the leg and watch out for a couple of other things as well. But, Dustin vs. Conor III for the belt, in I don’t know — May or something like that, wouldn’t that be amazing?“

Making his Octagon return for the time in just over a year at UFC 257 on Saturday, former two-weight world champion, ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor succumbed to strikes in his lightweight rematch against Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier, and head coach, John Kavanagh already has plans to address some “technical issues” as he put it, from his second-round knockout loss. 

Claiming the opening round against two-time foe, Poirier, McGregor ate a couple of nasty calf kicks from the American Top Team mainstay, who was flanked in his corner by renowned striker, former welterweight title challenger, Thiago ‘The Pitbull’ Alves. The 32-year-old also suffered an opening-round single-leg takedown from the masterful Poirier, before the two exchanged some good counters of their own after a clinch battle at the fence.

Noticeably feeling the effects of Poirier’s somewhat surprising leg kick offence in the second round, McGregor’s southpaw lead seemed to buckle before the Lafayette native stunned him with a sharp flurry at the fence. Attempting to find a much-needed exit, McGregor was clipped with a flush right hook from Poirier, sending him to his back before the first of two ground shots rendered him unconscious. The stoppage defeat marked the first time McGregor had been finished with strikes in his professional mixed martial arts career.

It’s total redemption for Poirier who brings the tie level at one-a-piece from their two outings against each other and puts himself in prime position to challenge for lightweight gold in his next walk, be that against current champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, which seems unlikely, or even with a vacant title up for grabs. The Louisianan has already poured cold water on a floated vacant title affair between himself and co-main event winner, Michael Chandler, noting how he’d be interested in clashing with the streaking, Charles ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira instead, or even a trilogy with McGregor, or a grudge-match with once-scheduled foe, Nate Diaz. 

Releasing a statement on the Wimp2Warrior Instagram page, Straight Blast Gym leader, Kavanagh reflected on Saturday’s result and performance against Poirier, detailing how the camp is in good spirits as they remain in Dubai — with plans to right the technical wrongs ahead of an Octagon return.

“We had a big fight and unfortunately this time, we came up short but here’s the secret; you live with it, we are all disappointed but we’re OK!” Kavanagh said. “In Conor’s (McGregor) case, certainly, the last six months have been amazing. The discipline and effort that he’s put in. When you’ve done that when you’ve left no stone unturned, you’ve made every training session, you made weight the right way, you’ve made the walk, you competed as hard as you possibly could.“

“Competition has two sides to the coin — winning and losing — and sometimes it’s going to fall on the losing side. That’s something you have to get used to — the quicker you get used to failing, the quicker you are going to have success.“

“We’ve woken up this morning, we’re back on the yacht in Dubai and guess what, the sun rose and we all still love Conor. We are going to pick ourselves up and figure out some of the technical issues that went against us on the night, fix them, get back up on the horse and go again. Win or learn.” (H/T Pundit Arena)

Saturday’s Octagon appearance for McGregor marked the first time in twelve months that he had competed, and prior to last January’s forty-second knockout win over Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, you’d be pushed back another fifteen months to find his Octagon outing against the above mentioned, Nurmagomedov at UFC 229.

Speaking with UFC commentator, Jon Anik afterwards, a dejected McGregor spoke of his disappointment in the result and claimed he’s still gunning for an active schedule in 2021, detailing how one can’t expect to be at their best come fight night if they approach Octagon appearances in a sporadic fashion.