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Dustin Poirier says his UFC rematch with Conor McGregor will be a completely different fight than their famous first meeting.
The lightweight rivals will meet on Fight Island on January 23 in a replay of the Las Vegas fight that put McGregor on the road to stardom six years ago.
After stopping his American opponent in the first round, McGregor won featherweight and lightweight titles and became the face of the sport.
Poirier admitted he was “excited” and “wanted to hurt” McGregor before that matchup, after letting the Irishman’s taunts before the fight get to him.
But now he faces ‘The Notorious’ as a husband and father of 31 years, and has established himself as one of the best lightweights in the UFC, having won an interim title and posted some impressive victories in the Octagon.
(Image: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
And this time he says he plans to “outwit” McGregor, 32.
“He was obviously a great fighter finishing a bunch of guys before me in his UFC career,” Poirier told MMA Junkie.
“But at this point, we are both much more established and we have much more experience, just more mature fighters, and I think there is a completely different fight here.
“I was excited in the first one. I wanted to hurt the boy. This time I just want to make fun of him, I just want to beat him. This is business. This is not ill will towards the boy.
(Image: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Poirier added: “When I was younger, I used to fight with a lot of emotion.
“This is not the same for me. This is not about getting revenge on me. This is not like some kind of revenge for me.
“It’s about advancing my career, putting my family in a better place. It’s not about getting a guy who caught me back. This is just a business.”
Poirier beat Dan Hooker in his last fight in June, while McGregor stopped Donald Cerrone within 40 seconds in January.
Poirier described McGregor as “one of the best two-two in the game,” but said Dubliner’s running game is underrated.
(Image: Zuffa / LLC via Getty Images)
“Looking at pictures and things like that, I can tell you that the guy has one of the best counter-dos in the game,” he said.
“There’s no question about it. His timing, his balance, his understanding of distance when guys are being too heavy on the front foot and taking powerful shots.
“He’s a great counter-puncher. He really is. I give him credit for that.
“I think people, because he’s been subdued, he’s a great puncher, people underestimate his running game.
“I think his jiu-jitsu and fighting is better than people give him credit for. I really do. I’m not underestimating this guy in any aspect of mixed martial arts.”
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