Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 2: Who won?
By Al Mac
Who won in the second fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor?
Dustin Poirier cashed as a +250 underdog at UFC 257, picking up the 2nd round TKO victory over Conor McGregor.
With the win, Poirier improved to a 27-6-1 record in his professional MMA career and 19-5-1 in the UFC. It was the third stoppage loss for McGregor in his last six Octagon appearances, and he is now 10-3 in his UFC career.
The story of the fight was the calf-kick-heavy game plan that Poirier implemented. Poirier lost the first round of the fight on all three judge’s scorecards, but the tide turned exponentially in the second round. With McGregor’s lead leg demobilized by calf-kicks, the fight swayed heavily in the favor of Poirier, who finished McGregor with ease halfway through the second round.
How did Dustin Poirier beat Conor McGregor at UFC 257?
McGregor started the fight by coming forward immediately, exchanging punches with Poirier right off the hop. Poirier managed to land a takedown on McGregor just thirty seconds into the fight, with Poirier holding McGregor down against the cage for a brief moment before McGregor managed to get back to his feet.
McGregor and Poirier went into a clinch exchange against the cage, with McGregor landing a few signature shoulder strikes, and Poirier answering back with a few of his own. McGregor landed some knees in the clinch while Poirier attempted to take McGregor down with a single leg. The two continued to battle in the clinch position, eventually separating with about 90 seconds remaining in the first round.
McGregor landed some hard shots in the final minute of the first round, but Poirier remained composed and worked a solid counterattack. Poirier would land a stiff check counter hook on McGregor, pointing at him in satisfaction. The first round ended with the two fighters exchanging punches against the cage.
Poirier scored the only takedown of the round and held McGregor against the fence for an extended period. However, the more impactful shots were landed by McGregor, who picked up the 10-9 score on all three judge’s cards.
Poirier landed a solid calf kick to start the second round, with McGregor returning with a stiff right hand, knocking Poirier back against the cage. Poirier recovered and continued to work the calf kick, with McGregor slowly losing mobility in his front leg.
McGregor began working offensively and managed to grab one of Poirier’s kicks. However, Poirier managed to escape the position and countered McGregor with another stiff check hook.
The fight’s final sequence saw McGregor working offensively against the cage, with Poirier landing another check-counter hook, knocking McGregor backward again. Poirier circled McGregor, putting him against the fence, cornering McGregor, and landing another stiff right hand.
In an attempt to put the fight away, Poirier came in with a barrage of combination punches. McGregor stepped backward and tried to duck underneath a right hand, but the punch landed squarely on the face of McGregor, knocking him down to the mat. Poirier followed up with punches to the downed McGregor, and referee Herb Dean soon stopped the fight.
In the post-fight interview, McGregor claimed that the calf kick demobilized him, ultimately leading to his defeat. McGregor immediately called for a rematch, which Poirier accepted on the spot.
Next. The 15 most notorious moments of Conor McGregor’s UFC hiatus. dark