This event saw Dustin Poirier creating history as he KO’d his arch rival Conor McGregor in the second round. To those who don’t know, this is the only time Conor McGregor has been knocked out during his pro-MMA career. This fight will go down as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. It is a perfect example that shows you should never underestimate an underdog. But what led the referee to stop the fight in the 2nd round? What did Poirier do to effectively take his revenge after 6 years of constant learning?
Dustin Poirier’s calf kicks were left unchecked by Conor McGregor
It was never impossible for Poirier to win, but a victory so early and in such a fashion clearly shows his skills as a fighter. So, what were the reasons that made McGregor fall a victim to The Diamond?
The fight started as usual with The Notorious quickly claiming the octagon center which he always does. During the early minutes, his footwork and punches seemed to put Poirier in trouble. But, Poirier was quick to take Conor down on the canvas. It seemed that McGregor didn’t notice it and fell prey to that easily scored takedown. But after some hassle and tussle, the Irish stalwart quickly found himself on his feet while pinning Poirier against the cage. A couple of shoulder strikes later, it started to look like McGregor was in a boxing match. With just 1 spinning hook kick thrown by him in the round, he didn’t seem to use one of his strongest weapons.
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But one thing that was constant during the whole fight was Dustin’s unchecked calf kicks, which changed the due course of the fight ultimately. It seemed at times that Poirier was in trouble, but he managed to get past the 1st round. McGregor fought the whole fight in a southpaw stance with minimally changing it to orthodox. This made his right leg an easy target to Poirier’s vicious leg kicks.
Second Round Decided Dustin Poirier As The Victor
In the second round, McGregor had a golden opportunity to score a good takedown but instead, he chose to pin Poirier against the cage once again. Had he put him to the ground and made use of his underrated Jiu-Jitsu skills, he might have made this night quite uncomfortable for The Diamond.
As time went by, Poirier got comfortable in his boxing range. And he used it against McGregor. With all the leg kicks taking a toll on The Notorious, Dustin Poirier launched a flurry of punches, which dropped McGregor. A few follow-up strikes later, the referee stepped in marking the end of the bout and declaring Poirier the winner by TKO.
Dustin Poirier’s mentality and the will to avenge his defeat might have given him an edge over Conor McGregor
Dustin Poirier had a serious point to prove in this fight. He needed to show the world that he still possesses what it takes to be the champion. He had a will to avenge his years’ old defeat in this 155lb division. This might have also given him an edge above McGregor when it comes to the mental aspect of the game.
No matter what the results might be, these men will surely go down as 2 of the greatest to ever do it. Let us know for sure what are your opinions on McGregor’s loss to Poirier.
