Dustin Poirier recently praised Conor McGregor‘s undeniable impact on MMA and the UFC. He highlighted how the Irishman excelled in multiple areas and changed the way fans view the sport.
Poirier and McGregor have a long history together. Their rivalry was intense and often got personal. They faced each other three times, with two fights ranking among the highest pay-per-view buyrates in UFC history.
McGregor won their first fight in 2014 by TKO. That bout was contested at featherweight. Years later, Poirier avenged his loss by 2nd round TKO in their rematch.
The rematch was contested at lightweight and set the stage for their trilogy bout later that year. In that fight, McGregor suffered a gruesome leg injury at the end of the opening round. He was unable to continue, giving Poirier the win by doctor’s stoppage.
McGregor hasn’t fought since, but has publicly expressed interest in returning at the White House event.
During an interview with CasinoBeats, Poirier set their rivalry aside and acknowledged McGregor’s legacy. He admired how the Irishman predicted fight outcomes and delivered on his promises.
“We’ve never seen a star of that magnitude in the UFC, who would back up what he says he’s going to do. Who would call the shots, the mic skills, the fighter he was. It was just a perfect storm,” Poirier said. “Two-division world champion. A lot of times, he did what he said he was going to do.”
Dustin Poirier Says Nobody Will Surpass Conor McGregor’s Star Power
Dustin Poirier also shared his thoughts on whether anyone can surpass McGregor’s star power. According to him, fans tuned in for more than just the Irishman’s fighting ability.
Several fighters have become household names in recent years. Fighters like Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya, and Ilia Topuria stand out. Still, none of them have broken McGregor’s pay-per-view buyrate records.
Poirier explained that McGregor’s charisma, skills, and confidence translated into massive pay-per-view sales. He was a polarizing fighter that had fans either supporting him or wanting to witness his downfall.
“[McGregor] made people want to tune in to watch him fight, whether you were buying the pay-per-view to watch him win, or you were against him and you bought it to watch him lose,” Poirier told CasinoBeats. “I don’t know if we’re ever going to see another star that big in the UFC again.”
Poirier Shares Prediction for Potential McGregor vs. Michael Chandler Fight
Poirier also gave his prediction for a potential Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight. The bout has been discussed for years and could become a reality at the White House.
Chandler is currently on a losing skid. Meanwhile, McGregor hasn’t fought since his injury against Poirier in 2021.
Despite the layoff, Poirier sees the fight as a favorable matchup for McGregor. He has fought and defeated both fighters, and believes the Irishman gets his hand raised.
“That’s a great matchup stylistically. A fight is a fight, so anything can happen. But I do believe that Conor is going to knock Chandler out if they fight,” Poirier told CasinoBeats. “I think it’s just a very bad matchup for Michael Chandler.”
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