UFC 281: Pros react to Dustin Poirier winning wild battle with Michael Chandler
See how fellow fighters reacted to the war Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler waged at UFC 281
The lightweight battle between Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler was expected to be the Fight of the Night at UFC 281. Inside Madison Square Garden, the fight certainly proved to be an exciting one, which ended with a Poirier victory.
Poirier found himself in trouble early on in the fight, thanks to Chandler’s aggression and flurries that stunned him, as well as a couple of takedowns from Chandler. Poirier, however, did fire back and cause some swelling around one of Chandler’s feet. He also troubled Chandler with his own flurry toward the end, working over a Chandler that was exhausted and had a busted up nose.
Chandler got back control in the second round, utilizing his wrestling and threatening submissions, staying in top control for almost all of the round.
In the third round, Chandler tried to get the fight back to the ground with a big slam. But Poirier countered and got to Chandler’s back, eventually finding a rear-naked choke and scoring the submission.
UFC 281: Pros react to Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler
Awesome 👏🏼 congrats @DustinPoirier #ufc281
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) November 13, 2022
What a fight #ufc281
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) November 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/francis_ngannou/status/1591652205459042311
This sport is so wild!! I’m in disbelief of that back and forth performance from these warriors! Congrats to the Diamond!! #UFC281
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) November 13, 2022
Not gonna lie I didn’t see that fight ending in a sub! What a war! Congrats @DustinPoirier #UFC281
— Wonderboy (@WonderboyMMA) November 13, 2022
This is why the lightweight division is the most exciting division what a war these 2 are some of the best doin it
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) November 13, 2022
What a fight!!! Poirer vs Chandler 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
— MackenzieDern (@MackenzieDern) November 13, 2022
What a COMEBACK!!! Damn ! #UFC281live
— Kyler Phillips (@Kymatrix) November 13, 2022
My man! 💎
— Aleksandar Rakic (@rakic_ufc) November 13, 2022
These guys are dogs! What a fight! 👏🏼 #ufc281
— Johnny Muñoz (@KidKvenbo) November 13, 2022
That lived up to everything I hoped it’d be. WHAT A FIGHT!! 🔥🔥#UFC281
— Jeff Molina (@jmolina_125) November 13, 2022
This was Poirier’s first fight since coming up short in a challenge of then-UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 last December. Poirier’s 2021 also saw him score a pair of TKO victories in rematches with Conor McGregor at UFC 257 and UFC 264.
UFC 257 also saw the promotional debut of Chandler, where he knocked out Dan Hooker. Chandler then fought Oliveira for the then-vacant lightweight title but came up just short. The former Bellator lightweight champion then lost a Fight of the Night with Justin Gaethje at UFC 268 before knocking out Tony Ferguson this past May at UFC 274.
UFC 281: Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira live results. dark. Next