Poirier knocks out McGregor in second round at UFC
Dustin Poirier reacts after his victory over Conor McGregor in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event. Reuters
American underdog Dustin Poirier stopped Conor McGregor with a flurry of punches midway through the second round on Sunday, as he shook up the world of mixed martial arts, beating up the legs of Irish superstar Conor McGregor before knocking him out at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi.
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"I'm happy but I'm not surprised. I put in the work," Poirier said, after the referee stepped in after 2min 32sec of the second round to save McGregor from further damage after he was dropped by a fierce combination of punches.
Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island. Reuters
"I think this is a title fight,” Poirier said of their lightweight bout. "I’m the champion.”
The 32-year-old Poirier was ranked second in the flyweight division going into the fight, but still rated a heavy underdog by bookmakers to beat his fourth-ranked opponent, arguably the most famous fighter the sport has seen, according to AFP.
The controversial McGregor, known as "Notorious", was returning to the Octagon for the first time in a year and hoping for 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 put McGregor (22-5) off his usual ferocious stand-up game -- and it worked.
"First off I want to say Conor took this result professionally. We're 1-1 and maybe we're going to have to do it again," said Poirier, hinting at the prospect of a trilogy fight.
Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi. Reuters
"I'm happy with the place I am in. I'm happy with the face I see in the mirror.
"The goal was to be technical and to pick my shots, not brawl 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 into the fight predicting he would end it inside 60 seconds.
But it was a different Poirier to the one who had looked overmatched when the pair previously met at UFC 178 at the lighter featherweight.
