For all his past accomplishments, Conor McGregor looked every inch of a fighter who had spent two years out of the octagon when he was mauled by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229.
Dropped and then squeezed, McGregor was off the pace. By his own admission, his camp had not been right. Headlines and fight week antics suggested at least some of McGregors mind was elsewhere. At the bottom of a Proper No.12 whiskey bottle, perhaps.
Nurmagomedov retained his title, made a fortune and became a global star. It was, in truth, an lope-sided victory for the lightweight champion. McGregor wasnt half the fighter hes shown himself to be.
Poirier will be no such easy task. Diamond, as he is dubbed, is in the form of his life. Featherweight champion Max Holloway, former champion Eddie Alvarez, WSOF champion Justin Gaethje and former champion Anthony Pettis have all fallen at his feet. All stoppages, all superb wins – built on set-backs.
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The losses have forged the Poirier we see today. Now 29, Poirier has transformed himself into the most dangerous contender in the lightweight division. Knocked out by Michael Johnson in 2016, stopped by McGregor in 2014, outfought by Cub Swanson in 2013 and submitted by Chan Sung Jung in 2012 – Poiriers UFC career has been strewn with disappointments.
After beating Holloway on points in April to claim the interim lightweight title, he said: I earned this, I paid in blood – in full – this is mine. In the age of the undefeated records like Nurmagomedovs, Poirier has taken a much different path to the top.
When I go out there and beat Khabib, its not a question of am I the best UFC lightweight? Its a question of am I the best lightweight to ever fight in mixed martial arts with the run Im on, Poirier said ahead of Saturday.
Max Holloway, Anthony Pettis, Eddie Alvarez, Khabib Nurmagomedov, winning over those guys in a row in main events, over and over, thats the best run in lightweight history.
Two fight fans could fall out quite easily, with one arguing Poiriers record is superior to the champions. Nurmagomedovs most notable scalps include McGregor, Rafael dos Anjos and Edson Barboza.
In the desert of Abu Dhabi, across the octagon will stand the most dangerous threat to Nurmagomedovs reign as champion, not just to date, but maybe in the whole division.
Everything has fallen into place for Poirier. Six fights in three years, injury free and unbridled wiRead More – Source
