DUSTIN POIRIER has stunned Conor McGregor with a devastating second round knockout victory at UFC 257.
Underdog Poirier let fly with a brutal punching combo to drop Notorious as he avenged his defeat in their first match six years ago to leave Fight Island in shock.
Follow ALL of the latest updates and reaction from Abu Dhabi below…
- Marc Mayo
PRINCE CHARLES
Charles Oliveira fancies Dustin Poirier for his next fight after the American downed Conor McGregor.
The Brazilian beat Tony Ferguson last month to rack up his eighth-straight win.
- sstreet
PUNCH DRUNK
Conor McGregor was brutally knocked out by Dustin Poirier and the stats showed the fight was just as one-sided as the second round KO suggested.
Poirier landed 18 kicks – compared to McGregor's two attempts.
And he was completely outfought in the stand-up game, landing 29 significant strikes compared to Poirier’s 48.
His 43 per cent significant strike rate was notably inferior to The Diamond's 52 per cent.
McGregor also failed to make the most of his two inch reach advantage, connecting 27 significant strikes at the distance compared to Poirier's 46.
- sstreet
'RACISM STILL EXIST'
Floyd Mayweather has accused the media of being racist after, in his view, showering Conor McGregor with praise for his lifestyle while criticising him.
The Money Man wrote on Instagram: "I seen this post and my take on it is that the world knows Con Artist McLoser can steal everything from me and be loved but I’m hated.
"That just lets you all know that racism still exist."
And he added: "Connor cannot even win in his own sport, but talking about coming back to boxing to fight Pacquiao.
"Nobody wants to see that, it's like my leftovers eating leftovers."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather)
- sstreet
FREE KHAB
Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to have dashed any hopes of a rematch with Conor McGregor after jokingly declaring himself ready to begin his football career.
Posting a video of himself out running, he wrote: "Preparing for my football debut ⚽️
"I’m free agent, and ready to accept offers."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov)
- Marc Mayo
NATE A SECOND
Nate Diaz has delivered his summary of Conor McGregor's defeat to Dustin Poirier.
As the first man to ever beat the Notorious, he suggested it could be time to move on to a new superstar of UFC.
- Marc Mayo
NUR WRONG
Conor McGregor has hit back after Khabib Nurmagomedov claimed 'sparring with little kids' led to his shock defeat to Dustin Poirier.
The Notorious' much-hyped return after a year of inactivity did not go to plan as he was knocked out in the second round of UFC 257's main event clash on Fight Island.
The Irishman said: "My team has been the team since day one. I've not changed any team.
"It is what it is, respect the athlete – and that's the character of the man behind the mask.
"Whatever. What does he want to do? Does he want to come back or not?"
- sstreet
'I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD BE'
Michael Chandler says he wants Dustin Poirier next after his first round win over Dan Hooker.
Chandler said: "I feel like it should be.
"Every single lightweight on the roster said no to the fight except for Conor.
"It was never offered to Conor. It was never offered to Khabib. Dan Hooker, hats off to you for saying yes.
"Everybody said no, so because of that I feel like I should somewhat skip the line.
"Poirier is a champion so I say let's go Poirier vs Chandler for the title.
"I think we match up very well together. He's a dog, he ain't gonna quit. I'm a dog. You know I ain't gonna quit. We're both gonna come forward. Orthodox vs Southpaw."
- Marc Mayo
MAC WILL BE BACK
Conor McGregor said 'don't write me off just yet' as he suggested a grappling approach next time against Dustin Poirier could earn him a victory.
The Dubliner, 32, was outwitted by Poirier's calf kick-heavy tactics that immobilised him before being rocked and finished in the second round.
He said: “I don’t know, man, I don’t know – you know, don’t just write me off yet."
He added: “I’ll adopt a different approach for the trilogy with Dustin because those leg kicks are not to be messed with.”
- Marc Mayo
KHAB YOU BELIEVE IT?
Khabib Nurmagomedov has told Dana White that he will not come out of retirement while he remains ‘so much better’ than his rivals.
Many had tipped Conor McGregor for a rematch with the Russian but last night’s loss saw White admit a return seems unlikely.
He told reporters: “He said to me, ‘Dana, be honest with yourself. I’m on so many levels above these guys, I beat these guys’.
“I don’t know what… but it doesn’t sound very positive.
“And what he said was I told you guys before, he won’t hold the division up. He already retired.
“He’s basically retired and I’m that one that’s been trying to get him to do one more.”
- sstreet
THE SEASON TO BE JOLIE
Dustin Poirier's wife Jolie was quick onto the scene after his stunning KO win over Conor McGregor.
And she had strong words for her man's critics, saying: "That's the last time you're going to doubt my husband!"
- Marc Mayo
STAT ATTACK
Here is a rundown of the punch stats from Conor McGregor's defeat to Dustin Poirier.
The Irishman was completely outfought in the stand-up game, landing 29 significant strikes compared to Poirier’s 48.
His 43 per cent significant strike rate was notably inferior to The Diamond's 52 per cent.
McGregor also failed to make the most of his two inch reach advantage, connecting 27 significant strikes at the distance compared to Poirier's 46.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty - Marc Mayo
KHAM AND GET IT
Khamzat Chimaev couldn’t help but troll Conor McGregor after his defeat.
The Russian, unbeaten 9-0 in MMA, tweeted a picture of the beaten Notorious with several laughing emojis.
However, he has since deleted his tweet.
- sstreet
'LIKE AN AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN MY SUIT'
Conor McGregor was brutally honest after his defeat to Dustin Poirier as he admitted his dead leg meant he "just wasn't as comfortable as he needed to be".
McGregor said: "It's heart-breaking and hard to take. My leg is completely dead. It's like an American football in my suit at the minute.
"If you put in the time in here, you're going to get cosy in here and I just have to dust it off and come back and that's what I will do.
"I need activity, you don't get away with being inactive in this business.
"As long as you stay active and as long as you compete, things shape around you. You show up, you reap the rewards.
"That's what happened for Dustin and it's what's happened against me."
- sstreet
LIMP DISPLAY
Dustin Poirier dominated Conor McGregor at Fight Island with a brutal display of leg kicks.
The American avenged a 2014 defeat by giving the Irishman a beating he won't soon forget.
McGregor had so much trouble dealing with Poirier's kicks that he was seen limping out of the arena on Yas Island after the fight.
- sstreet
NUR WAY BACK
Khabib Nurmagomedov couldn't resist a dig at arch rival Conor McGregor after his defeat to Dustin Poirier.
The Russian, who beat both Poirier and McGregor stated that Notorious was "far away from reality".
He tweeted: "This is what happened, when you change your team, leave the sparring partners who made you a champion and sparring with little kids, far away from reality."
- Marc Mayo
LEG’S THINK ABOUT THIS
Dustin Poirier revealed the brutal theory behind his targeting of Conor McGregor’s leg last night.
He told reporters: “I’ve been kicking long enough, and when you land with the top of your shin, the thick part of your shin right under the knee and you turn it the right way, it’s so heavy and it hurts so bad, especially on a calf. The first one I landed I knew I had him good.
“Because of his wide stance, we thought it would be hard to check, and he wasn’t checking correctly.
“It was still the muscle part of his calf, he wasn’t turning his shin all the way outward, so it wasn’t shin to shin. Even when he checked he was getting the bad part of the kick.
“And I know from experience, I’ve been crippled by that kick from Jim Miller, I’ve been hurt by them a few times. The swelling in your calf, it has nowhere to go.”
- Marc Mayo
STOPPED STREAM
Dana White claimed before last night’s fight that he had ‘caught’ one illegal streamer.
However the UFC boss has recounted how the broadcaster saw the error of their ways and began selling legal PPVs before the actual contest.
White said: “[The streamer] put out a statement that night.
“Said I will not be streaming the McGregor vs Poirier anymore. But I will show you how to buy it legally.
“And now his whole streaming service has been deleted and is gone. Disappeared. One down and a s***load to go.”
- sstreet
'FULL OF RESPECT'
Conor McGregor was respectful in defeat after his shock KO loss to Dustin Poirier.
The Irishman had been known for relentlessly jibing Khabib Nurmagomedov after his last defeat in the Octagon, but struck an altogether different tone this time.
And Notorious even raised the prospect of a rematch, saying: "We'll do it again."
- Marc Mayo
IT'S ALL MEME MEME MEME
UFC fans have revelled in Conor McGregor's defeat to Dustin Poirier by flooding social media with memes of the two-weight world champion.
The 32-year-old was brutally knocked out in the second round of the main event at UFC 257 in their eagerly-awaited rematch in Abu Dhabi.
The internet instantly used a picture of McGregor laying on the floor of the canvas in a variety of different ways.
Check out some of the best below…
- Craig Mahood
POIRIER POST-MATCH
To answer the question, I think he done not too bad…..?♂️
- Craig Mahood
RESPECT
He gets a lot of grief, McGregor and some of his actions in the past have probably deserved some of it.
But there's no denying the class and respect these two had when crossing paths post-fight.
- Craig Mahood
LIMP AWAY
McGregor leaving the arena earlier today to head back to his hotel.
Opting not to use the crutch, the Irishman is in obvious pain as he hobbles to the luxury car waiting for him.
Looks a sore one indeed ?
- Craig Mahood
ICYMI
Conor McGregor addressed the supportive messages he has received in the wake of the defeat earier today.
He took to social media and said he was looking forward to a trilogy fight with 'one hell of a competitor' in Dustin Poirier.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma)
- Craig Mahood
COME BACK
So McGregor has encouraged his old foe to get back in the octagon and have another go…
- Craig Mahood
HE COULDN'T, COULD HE?
The retired Khabib is getting called out from all angles.
Conor McGregor believes the below tweet was fighting talk
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