Bishkek, July 11, 2021 . / Kabar / . Dustin Poirier now owns two victories over the biggest star in the history of mixed martial arts. This one, though, didn't end in the cleanest way, ESPN reported.
Poirier hit Conor McGregor with a combination at the end of the first round of Saturday night's highly anticipated main event at UFC 264. McGregor went to plant his left foot -- and his leg buckled, sending him to the mat. Poirier followed up with punches on the ground as time expired.
With McGregor's leg clearly hurt, referee Herb Dean called the bout. The official result was Poirier by TKO (doctor's stoppage) at 5:00 of the first round. A stretcher was brought in to transport McGregor to the hospital.
UFC president Dana White has said Saturday's winner will fight for the UFC lightweight title next against champion Charles Oliveira.
But there will be speculation about a fourth bout because of the way this one ended. White said after McGregor heals, and after Poirier fights for the belt, there may be a fourth fight between Poirier and McGregor.
Poirier (27-6, 1 NC) has won three straight and lost just once since 2016, a defeat in a lightweight title fight against undefeated all-time great Khabib Nurmagomedov. He is 11-2 (1 NC) since moving up to lightweight from featherweight in 2015.
McGregor (22-6) is the biggest star in the history of the sport. The Ireland native owns most of the promotion's pay-per-view records. Forbes recently ranked him as the highest-paid athlete in the world over the past year. Inside the Octagon, McGregor was the first-ever UFC fighter to hold titles in two divisions at the same time, after beating Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title in 2016 -- while already holding the featherweight belt. McGregor, 32, has just one win and has only fought three times since the Alvarez bout.
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