Conor McGregor wants Dustin Poirier to square up and meet him in the center of the octagon when they battle for a third time this summer.
Their series was tied at one win apiece at UFC 257 this past January, when Poirier avenged a September 2014 loss with a second-round TKO of McGregor. The two are now booked to settle the score at UFC 264 on July 10.
Unsurprisingly, the build for the fight has begun well in advance, with the two recently lobbing shots at each other over Twitter. Addressing the eight-year anniversary of his UFC debut, McGregor recalled the hard work that took him to the top of the UFC mountain and he vowed to take the same approach to what he calls his “comeback fight” against Poirier.
When Poirier responded, McGregor pointed out that he felt Poirier “backed up” in their first fight and was first to initiate the grappling. He vowed that he will be “in the middle from the very go” if Poirier is up for it and that he will also “be ready for the tactics” of Poirier this time.
Double skills work. I also didn’t take rest days unless I absolutely had to. Not one. Not even a Sunday.
I will take this approach again for my comeback fight.
I didn’t become ufc champ champ with this method but I did become ufc 145 champion. Also the cage warrior champ champ.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 5, 2021
Good to hear Dustin, I hope so. As last time you backed up and shot inside the first 30 seconds. I’ll be in the middle from the very go if you want it. You know that. I’ll be ready for the tactics this time too tho.
See you in there. https://t.co/RMiwF1rpGD— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 6, 2021
Regarding McGregor’s recollection of the first fight, Poirier did indeed score a takedown around the 30-second mark of round one. McGregor recovered and returned the fight to the feet shortly after and put on a strong performance in the opening five minutes before succumbing to Poirier’s striking. Poirier made devastating use of calf kicks to pick McGregor apart and put him away with punches at the 2:32 mark of round two.
Poirier later responded to a fan who suggested he was lucky in the rematch, saying that “luck does exist, but it finds you working.”
