UFC 257: Poirier Plans To Take McGregor Into Deep Waters
Dustin Poirier is hoping for a war inside the Octagon when he faces Conor McGregor in the blockbuster rematch at UFC 257.
Poirier fought McGregor for the first time at UFC 178 in 2014, but was TKO’d within the first two minutes of the first round. But come January 23rd, ‘The Diamond’ plans to push past his limits, and take his opponent into deep waters.
The Gameplan
Speaking to Theo Von on his ‘This Past Weekend’ podcast (as transcribed by BJPenn.com), Poirier shared his game plan for the rematch with McGregor.
“I didn’t even get to fight,” Poirier said. “The fight didn’t even get to blossom, but that’s fighting. Anything can happen under those lights. If you’re talking about [the] game plan, what I want is for both of us to be dripping blood and hurting and suffering early in the fight, then we can find out who’s the real fighter. That’s what I want. I want to be bleeding with a minute off the first round clock.”
Deep Waters
With 20 of his 22 wins coming by the way of first or second round stoppages, many fans question McGregor’s chances of winning when fights go into the championship rounds. Poirier on the other hand, has not only spent more time inside the Octagon of the two, but has also been part of some of the most entertaining all out wars in recent years.
“I want us both to be bleeding and really have to dig down and see who’s the better fighter, and see who really wants to be in there, because I don’t have a safety net,” Poirier said. “I want to be in there, and I know that. I know that, and I’d like to find out if he does.”
With champion Khabib Nurmagomedov retiring, both Poirier and McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, believe that their UFC 257 main event should be for the lightweight title.
In a recent interview with ESPN however, Dana White revealed that the fight will remain a non-title bout, even if Khabib confirms that he has no intention of fighting again, when they meet on Fight Island in the next week.
Poirier last fought in a five round war against Dan Hooker at UFC Vegas 4, winning via unanimous decision, while McGregor made light work of ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone at UFC 246 in his most recent fight.
Who do you think wins the UFC 257 main event between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor?
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