Dustin Poirier triumphed over Conor McGregor Saturday night at UFC 264, but McGregor’s ankle break at the end of the first round failed to conclusively end the rivalry.
McGregor (22-6-0) came out aggressively with kicks and strikes – including the patented straight left hand – forcing Poirier to cautiously return fire. A failed guillotine attempt allowed Poirier (28-6-0, 1NC) to ramp up his volume and jump on McGregor after landing a knockdown. Vicious ground and pound had “The Diamond” in a good place but McGregor was trying to land upkicks for good measure.
McGregor’s left ankle bent in a gruesome manner when he got up and forced a doctor’s stoppage after he was checked by the doctor at the end of the first round.
The win cements Poirier as the No. 1 contender in the lightweight and a fight with champion Charles Oliveira. But UFC president Dana White admitted in the post-fight press conference that the contest was a not a good one and that a rematch needs to be made at some point.
These two D E L I V E R E D 💸
💢 @SugaSeanMMA and @MoutinhoKris secure the FOTN at #UFC264.
[ B2YB @ToyoTires ] pic.twitter.com/LJKP0s4fwM
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
Tai Tuivasa and Dricus Du Plessis earned performances of the night, while Sean O’Malley and Kris Moutinho earned Fight of the Night. Each fighter earned a $75,000 USD bonus.
𝑩𝑶𝑵𝑼𝑺-𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑻𝑯𝒀 💰
🇦🇺 @BamBamTuivasa and 🇿🇦 @DricusDuPlessis earn your POTN at #UFC264!
[ B2YB @P3Protein ] pic.twitter.com/JLRNIDHBFN
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
UFC 264 FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
ZHALGAS ZHUMAGULOV VS. JEROME RIVERA
How's that for a first win in the UFC 😱
🇰🇿 @ZhakoZhumagulov gets a first RD tap! #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/ZvWSVfXiY6
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2021
WINNER: ZHALGAS ZHUMAGULOV VIA SUBMISSION (GUILLOTINE CHOKE)
Andrews: That was a sweet choke against the cage. Good win for ZZ.
OMARI AKHMEDOV VS. BRAD TAVARES
These boys are SWINGING in the last seconds 👊
[ #UFC264 | Early Prelims on @ESPNPlus & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/ClLqE1ehyJ
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2021
WINNER: BRAD TAVARES VIA SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: OMARI AKHMEDOV VIA UD
Andrews: Need to close the deal in when you’re on the big stage. Split-decisions don’t do much.
JENNIFER MAIA VS. JESSICA EYE
What. A. Battle. #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/PE0ExC5AHn
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2021
WINNER: JENNIFER MAIA VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JENNIFER MAIA VIA UD
Andrews: Maia’s striking more than held up and she didn’t even have to use much of her ground skills. Good win.
UFC 264 PRELIMS
TREVIN GILES VS. DRICUS DU PLESSIS
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
🇿🇦 @DricusDuPlessis putting South Africa on the map! #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/kinqJld3o9
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
WINNER: DRICUS DU PLESSIS VIA KO (PUNCHES) R2 1:41
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TREVIN GILES VIA TKO
Andrews: It looked like Du Plessis was the octagon veteran instead of Giles.
RYAN HALL VS. ILIA TOPURIA
HOW ABOUT THAT 🤯 @TopuriaIlia #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/ZQvUa1nJpo
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
WINNER: ILIA TOPURIA VIA KO (PUNCHES) R1 4:47
ANDREWS PREDICTION: RYAN HALL VIA UD
Andrews: Topuria is for real.
NIKO PRICE VS. MICHEL PEREIRA
𝘿𝙀𝙈𝙊𝙇𝙄𝘿𝙊𝙍 makes it 3 in a row 🇧🇷 @UFCPereira
[ #UFC264 | Prelims LIVE NOW on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/t207OzPQmC
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
WINNER: MICHEL PEREIRA VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MICHEL PEREIRA VIA UD
Andrews: A lot of fans felt Price won, but again, on the big stage you need to put the guy away. Both guys did not benefit a lot from this result.
CARLOS CONDIT VS. MAX GRIFFIN
Bringing the 𝑷𝑨𝑰𝑵 in RD 1 😳@MaxPainGriffin #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/6RBEaOMHs5
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
WINNER: MAX GRIFFIN VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MAX GRIFFIN VIA TKO
Andrews: Griffin unloaded but couldn’t put Condit away. You need to put him away to get the full benefit.
MAIN CARD
SEAN O’MALLEY VS. KRIS MOUTINHO
Landed right on the head 🎯@SugaSeanMMA isn't holding back in RD 2.
[ #UFC264 | Were Live on E+ PPV: https://t.co/DZxtGSEqWu ] pic.twitter.com/sTjHWm0KEo
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
WINNER: SEAN O’MALLEY VIA TKO R3 4:33
ANDREWS PREDICTION: SEAN O’MALLEY VIA TKO
Andrews: O’Malley did not underestimate Moutinho and it’s a good thing too.
#4 IRENE ALDANA VS. #5 YANA KUNITSKAYA
R E L E N T L E S S 😤
🇲🇽 @IreneAldana_ gets the TKO in RD 1. #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/bFKv1vrMOA
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
WINNER: IRENE ALDANA VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 4:35
ANDREWS PREDICTION: IRENE ALDANA VIA UD
Andrews: Impressive performance by Aldana, but she missed weight badly.
TAI TUIVASA VS. GREG HARDY
WHAT IN THE 🌎 @BamBamTuivasa #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/RXCmomvTsw
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
WINNER: TUI TUIVASA VIA KO (PUNCHES) R1 1:07
ANDREWS PREDICTION: GREG HARDY VIA TKO
Andrews: Nifty shot by Tuivasa after getting wobbled.
#2 GILBERT BURNS VS. #6 STEPHEN THOMPSON
Back on the winning track for D U R I N H O 🇧🇷
💪 @GilbertDurinho gets the UD at #UFC264. pic.twitter.com/QpNrh3FYwv
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
WINNER: GILBERT BURNS VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: STEPHEN THOMPSON VIA UD
Andrews: Burns eventually got through to get the takedown to get the win. But it was a boring fight.
#1 DUSTIN POIRIER VS. #5 CONOR MCGREGOR
The DIAMOND gets the dub via Doctor's Stoppage in RD 1️⃣ #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/fa4u4LVxzl
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
WINNER: DUSTIN POIRER VIA TKO (DOCTOR’S STOPPAGE) R1 5:00
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DUSTIN POIRIER VIA TKO
JOHN MAKDESSI PREDICTION: DUSTIN POIRIER VIA TKO
SHAUN PAUL PICCININO PREDICTION: CONOR MCGREGOR VIA TKO
ELAHEH MANSOURIAN PREDICTION: CONOR MCGREGOR VIA TKO
SOURIS MANFREDI PREDICTION: DUSTIN POIRIER VIA TKO
Andrews: It happens to every great warrior in the UFC. For a while now, McGregor can no longer compete at the top of the division. Now his body is failing him and he is in free fall. He needs to hang it up and return to boxing.
The next UFC event is UFC on ESPN 26 next Saturday July 17 at the UFC Apex. Islam Makhachev takes on Thiago Moises in the main event.
@kenaiandrews
