Conor McGregor said he wanted “competition” in 2021.
He got a little more than he bargained for on Sunday (AEDT) as Dustin Poirier gave him a lightweight reality check on Fight Island.
It was McGregor’s power and precision that was supposed to prove the difference on the Irishman’s return to the cage. Instead, it was Poirier who found the finish in the second round as he left the former two-division champion in a mess on the canvas.
WORLD REACTS AS ‘SLOW, HESITANT’ CONOR SHOWN UP
‘NEEDS TO BE FIRED’: UFC REF SLAMMED OVER STOPPAGE FARCE
There was a flurry of strikes that found their home, before a right hand sat McGregor down. On this occasion, referee Herb Dean made no mistake in stepping in to stop the fight, which was a rematch of a 2014 affair at featherweight that saw Poirier stopped in the first.
Fighting for the first time since January of last year, McGregor looked dangerous in the stand-up, but could do little to stop Poirier’s leg kicks, which ultimately set the stage for the American’s finish.
“I’m happy, man, but I’m not surprised,” Poirier said post-fight. “First off, I want to say Conor took this result very professionally. He’s a pro, man. Nothing but respect.
“We’re 1-1, maybe have to do it again.”
It was former interim champion Poirier’s second straight win since dropping to a 2019 loss at the hands of the now-retired Khabib Nurmagomedov. After beating Kiwi Dan Hooker last year, this win puts the 32-year-old right back in the title conversation.
“I feel like this was a title fight,” Poirier said. “If Khabib’s not coming back, me and Conor are the two best guys — I think this was the title fight. I’m the champion.”
UFC STAR GAINS 12KG OVERNIGHT – AND LOSES
‘OH MY GOODNESS’: UFC LEGEND LOSES IT AT ‘CRAZY’ TKO
McGregor predicted he’d finish the fight within 60 seconds. And he did land that famous left hand early. But Poirier ate it, before responding with a little more sauce.
“It’s hard to overcome inactivity over long periods of time,” McGregor said. “The leg kicks were good. Those low calf kicks were really good — my leg was dead.
“I just wasn’t as comfortable as I wanted to be. It’s the inactivity and that’s it. But Dustin is some fighter.”
McGregor, who confirmed he’d back in the Octagon in 2021, added: “I have to dust it off and come back and that’s what I’ll do.”
In the co-main event, former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler, on debut, made a dream start to life in the UFC with a first-round finish of No. 6 ranked contender Dan Hooker.
It was supposed to be a test. Instead, it was stunning introduction for Chandler, who proved he more than belongs in the UFC.
FULL CARD
Main Card
Dustin Poirier (2) def. Conor McGregor (4) — via second round TKO — lightweight
Michael Chandler def. Dan Hooker (6) — via first round TKO — lightweight
Joanne Calderwood (7) def. Jessica Eye (6) — via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28) — women’s flyweight
Makhmud Muradov def. Andrew Sanchez — via third round TKO — middleweight
Marina Rodriguez (8) def. Amanda Ribas (10) — via second round TKO — women’s strawweight
Prelims
Arman Tsarukyan def. Matt Frevola — via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 30-26) — catchweight
Brad Tavares (14) def. Antonio Carlos Junior — via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28) middleweight
Julianna Pena (7) def. Sara McMann (9) — via third round submission — women’s bantamweight
Marcin Prachnio def. Khalil Rountree Jr. — via unanimous decision (29-38 x 3) — light heavyweight
Early Prelims
Movsar Evloev def. Nik Lentz — via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29) — catchweight
Amir Albazi (15) def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov — via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3) — flyweight