It was not the end fans had hoped for at UFC 264, but the conclusion of the highly anticipated main event trilogy fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor was definitely definitive.
Conor McGregor fractures his lower leg in TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264
At the outset of the boiut, McGregor, 32, put forth a kick-heavy attack against Poirier. Unleashing thudding kicks to the knee of the Louisiana native. However, “Diamond” took it in stride and looked to land strikes of his own, including those familiar calf kicks.
As the round progressed, “Notorious” found himself on the wrong end of an exchange where his opponent landed several strong shots. The quick compilation of damage led McGregor to engage in grappling. Something he said would be a “dusty b*tch” move in the lead up to the fight. In the grappling Poirier also took the advantage and pushed the Irishman up against the cage. In trying to defend a takedown, McGregor pulled guard and looked to sink in a guillotine choke. Which would have been just the second submission win of his career. He did not.
Once Poirier was able to remove his neck from the hold, he started to work his wrestling and ground-and-pound. Battering McGregor often with powerful elbows as he kept his foe stuck to the mat for the majority of the round. An odd moment occurred–which Poirier claimed after the fight was McGregor pulling on his gloves–that lead to a separation on the mat and the two back to standing. Then the finale of the fight unfolded.
McGregor returned to his feet aggressive and looking for retribution from being battered on the mat. The two both attempted punches that did not land, but when McGregor stepped back on his rear foot, his ankle gave out and fell to the mat. The round soon came to an end, but during the break before the second round, the former two-division champion let Octagon doctors know his ankle was toast, and referee Herb Dean called the fight. Awarding the technical knockout win to Poirier.
It was surely a disappointing result for such a highly anticipated trilogy booking but it sums up the unpredictable nature of mixed martial arts.
The victory is the third straight for former interim lightweight champion Poirier and sets up an eventual title fight with new division king Charles Oliveira later this year.
For McGregor, it’s the first MMA losing streak of his career, after winning just one bout in his last four. His specific injury and how long it takes to recover are still yet to be determined. His star power is undeniable, the question is, will the wealthiest athlete in sports be willing to climb the mountain all over again after this loss and injury?
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