Joe Rogan Explains Why Dustin Poirier Beat Conor McGregor At UFC 257
Joe Rogan has given his thoughts on Conor McGregor’s second round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in the UFC 257 main event.
Almost seven years after finishing Poirier in the first round at UFC 178 in a featherweight contest, McGregor ran it back with ‘The Diamond’ at UFC 257 at lightweight. The rematch didn’t play out how ‘The Notiorious’ had envisioned it however.
Poirier was able to survive the early onslaught, as he switched between striking and grappling to keep McGregor guessing in the first round. He then upped the ante in the second round, brutalising the Irishman’s lead leg with calf kicks, before eventually stopping him with punches.
Poirier Has Got Better
Some fans blamed McGregor’s loss on his alleged lack of motivation, due to his rapid acquisition of wealth.
Rogan however, has a different perspective. Speaking on his ‘Joe Rogan Experience’ podcast (as transcribed by Essentially Sports), he said that it wasn’t a lack of motivation, but a lack of activity combined with Poirier’s gameplan that lead to McGregor’s downfall.
“He was still pretty f***ing rich when he fought Eddie Alvarez, he was already a multi-millionaire,” Rogan stated. “I don’t necessarily think it’s a rich thing. I don’t know if that affects him that much, but I do think it’s inactivity and I do think Dustin got a lot better.
“There’s moments in that fight where [McGregor] was having big success. He hurt Dustin at one point in time with a big left hand, but that f***ing low calf kick. That low calf kick is a beast.”
Calf Kicks
Rogan also stressed the fact that in their first meeting, Poirier was ‘depleted and diminished’ from cutting down to 145lbs. But at lightweight, the Louisiana native has truly come into his own.
“At 145, Dustin was depleted and diminished,” Rogan noted. “At 155 he’s f***ing huge. He doesn’t even look like a 55’er. He looks like a 70’er.”
The long-time colour commentator also pointed out that McGregor’s wide karate stance leaves him susceptible to low calf kicks.
“The thing is [McGregor] is heavy on that front leg, [he has a] wide karate stance and he’s always doing this,” Rogan said. “When that leg is available for the low calf kick that changes everything, changes your whole approach, and Conor is also a guy never been known to switch back and forth.”
With the Dublin native itching to avenge his first career loss by TKO, the UFC is reportedly planning a trilogy fight between McGregor and Poirier in the summer.
Do you agree with Joe Rogan’s assessment of Conor McGregor’s loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257?
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