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American underdog Dustin Poirier rocked the mixed martial arts world on Sunday, slapping the legs of Irish superstar Conor McGregor before knocking him out at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi.
“I am happy but not surprised. I put the work in, ”Poirier after the referee intervened after 2 minutes and 32 seconds of the second round to save McGregor from further damage after he was brought down by a fierce combination of punches.
Poirier, 32, was ranked second in the flyweight division going into the fight, but bookies called him a big underdog to beat his opponent in fourth place, arguably the most famous fighter ever. seen the sport.
The controversial McGregor, known as “Notorious,” was returning to the Octagon for the first time in a year and was expecting a repeat of the pair’s first contest in 2014, which he won by TKO after just 109 seconds.
But Poirier, who now has a UFC record of 27-6, used low calf kicks in an effort to knock McGregor (22-5) out of his usual fierce standing game, and it worked.
“First of all, I want to say that Conor took this result professionally. We’re 1-1 and we may have to do it again, ”Poirier said, hinting at the possibility of a trilogy fight.
“I am happy with where I am. I am happy with the face I see in the mirror.
“The goal was to be technical and choose my shots, not to fight at all. I had him hurt and I went a little crazy. “
McGregor likes to call himself “Mystic Mac” and had spent the week leading up to the fight predicting that he would finish it in 60 seconds.
But it was a different Poirier than the one who was outmatched when the pair previously met at UFC 178 at the lightest featherweight.
‘I’m gutted’
Poirier worked his legs and put McGregor in a fight for much of the first round, avoiding a boxing showdown against a man who once shared the ring with Floyd Mayweather and had promoted a future fight against Manny Pacquiao.
Poirier then found his range in the second, weakening McGregor’s base with more kicks to the calf before exploding for the crash finale.
He staggered McGregor with a big left wing and then dropped him to the mat with a right straight to the Irishman’s nose before referee Herb Dean parried him.
“The kick to the calf was really good, but Dustin is a fighter,” McGregor said.
I’ll dust it off and come back because that’s what I’ll do. I’ll take my licks.
“I’m heartbroken, it’s hard to swallow. I just want to go back to the hotel, relax with my kids, and regroup. ”
Runner-up Poirier is now in a prime position to inherit or fight for the UFC lightweight belt, which was recently held by the now-retired and undefeated Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I felt like this was the title fight. If Khabib doesn’t come back, then I’m the champion, ”said Poirier.
The fight took place inside the new Etihad Arena at the “Fight Island” biosecure sports center on Yas Island that the Abu Dhabi government established last July.
The three UFC events hosted over the past week have been the first to allow fans to sit by the cage, with around 2,000 in attendance for the main event.
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