There was a huge shock in the world of MMA over the weekend, as Dustin Poirier gained revenge for the defeat he suffered against Conor McGregor in September 2014. Poirier looked the sharper of the two fighters throughout their contest, with McGregor even claiming after the fight that the fact he hadn’t fought inside the octagon for a year could have been a factor in the defeat.
However, the headlines didn’t make for good reading for the Irishman in the aftermath, as he was knocked out for the first time in his professional career. The defeat is also the second he has suffered in three appearances, with his only win aside from the victory over Donald Cerrone coming in November 2016 against Eddie Alvarez.
UFC News: McGregor vs Poirier III
The result was an unexpected one according to all the leading experts, while bookmakers also had the Irishman as the odds on favourite to win the fight. The defeat now raises the question about what could be next for the Irishman, with many expecting a third fight between the two before McGregor even contemplates a return to boxing.
However, any trilogy fight with Poirier may be forced to wait, as the American has set his sites on winning the lightweight title in his next bout. That could potentially open the door for McGregor to bring a close to a different chapter in his career, as he could be set to return to fight Nate Diaz. The two fighters have met on two previous occasions, with Diaz winning the first fight by submission in March 2016. The rematch came five months later with McGregor getting the win by decision.
UFC News: Boxing Return In Doubt
The defeat means that McGregor will have to wait for the chance to avenge the setback, which could mean a year in UFC without focusing on other opportunities. He could return in the summer with a contest against Diaz, before then facing off against Poirier later in 2021. However, the defeat on Saturday means that there are now serious doubts that he will achieve his target of winning a boxing world title.
McGregor had planned to face off against Manny Pacquiao this year, but any chance of that happening with the title on the line appears slim. Pacquiao is reportedly set to face off against Ryan Garcia later in the year. Garcia revealed the news, which was a stunning revelation given that there are two weights between the two fighters. However, it is reportedly believed that an agreement has been made, which would be a massive blow for McGregor.
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