MMA Fighting - UFC 257 Timeline: Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 2

Episode Date: January 18, 2021

With the highly anticipated rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier just days away at UFC 257, find out how these two lightweights ended up meeting again after they first clashed all the way back in 2014. Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Subscribe to the podcast: http://applepodcasts.com/mmahour MMA Fighting is your home for exclusive interviews, live shows, and more for one of the world's fastest-growing sports. Get latest news and more here: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. MMA fighting presents timeline. Dustin Porriere versus Connor McGregor 2. January 1st, 2011, UFC 125 Resolution, Las Vegas, Nevada. The 8-1 WZ veteran, Dustin the Diamond Poirier, makes his UFC debut against top-ranked featherweight title contendings. Josh Rispy. In what was at the time, a stunning upset, Jorge defeats Crispi by unanimous decision.

Jorge would follow up this victory with another decision victory over Jason Young at UFC 131, Carwin v. Dos Santos. Was the weight cut, though, easier this time than in your debut against Crispy? Actually, I think it was a little bit harder. Yeah. Why? I'm not sure, you know, I've dieted for four months hard, straight.

You know, I've been training my butt off for a long time for this fight. But maybe I put on some muscle, you know, I started kind of a little bit new Strengthing Additioning Program. I'm not sure, you know, I got here at the exact same weight as I did my last fight. But, you know, the pounds just seemed like they were a little bit tougher to come off. Why did you feel the need to drop weight classes? Well, you know, I probably fought 16 or 17 times at 155, but not nearly the level of competition the Zufo organization has to offer.

So, you know, I fought twice in W.C. at 155 and did well my second fight, but my debut fight at 155 in WC, you know, I fought a very strong wrestler Danny Castillo. And that kind of opened my eyes up. You know, these guys have been at this level, been wrestling their whole lives and fighting their whole lives, and it's just a different, you know, there's a different kind of strength these 155ers have. And now you're probably one of the bigger 145ers,

so you can pose your will on the guys. Now you're 2 in 0-145. You had that massive win against Josh Crispy. Where do you place yourself right now in that division? You know, at the bottom. I'm still new. I'm 22 years old. It's only my fourth fighting Zufa organization.

You know, I want to build my name, build my fan base, and get better. I'm still growing in the octagon. I'm nowhere near middle or higher of the, you know, of the 145-pound division. I'm just a fight right here trying to get better every fight. November 12, 2011, UFC on Fox 1, Velazquez versus Dos Santos, Anaheim, California. Corier makes his return to the cage against veteran Pablo Garza on the inaugural Fox card. The diamond defeats Garza by Darstchoke in the second round.

You feel so you've gone into a groove here at 145 with a weight cut? Like this is the place for you? This was my easiest weight cut at 1.45. You know, I came here at a great weight. My diet three months out was on point, you know. Everything was like clockwork, you know, this time. Got off the plane at the weight I wanted, woke up every day at the target weight. Perfect.

I got to mention last week I had the privilege to see your documentary that you started in Fight Field, which was a fantastic film, and I recommend it to anyone out there. For the people that don't know this journey, I mean, has this all happened very quickly for you? Because you watched that. that long ago that you were fighting on these small shows. Is this the sort of pace that you thought your career would go? Because right now, like I said, you're one of the top contenders and it wasn't too long ago that you were fighting in these barnyard shows. Literally. But, you know, it's happening fast. But if you count the days and hours that I put in, it's been a long road, man. You know,

I'm alone when I wake up in the morning, the sun's not out and I'm running. Three training sessions a day. You know, I can't sleep at night because I think about fighting. I wake up and watch fights. I watched Pablo Garza's last fight probably a thousand times with a cup of coffee every morning for the last three months, you know, a couple times a day. And, you know, I put in the work, man. I'm a hard worker, really. You know, I know a lot of guys say that and whatever.

I mean, I'm not here to Tup Moenhorn, but, man, I put in the work and I'm very passionate about this and I care about this so much. You know, I found something that I love, you know, and I want to be the best at, and that's what I'm trying to do. But, you know, it's happening quick, more quick than I've ever, I ever imagined it could happen. February 4th, 2012, UFC 1,15, Dias versus Condit, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Justin Porreux welcomes a 20-year-old Max Holloway to the UFC. Porre defeats the prospect by submission in the first round. I won. I'm living a dream. You know, this is my life, my passion. It's my career. It's amazing. I can't, whatever I say, it doesn't do it justice. It almost seems like every time you come out there, you keep looking better, you keep looking more confident. Is that just you're getting more reps out there and now you feel like you belong?

in the UFC? That's exactly it. You know, I feel at home here in the UFC. You know, when Bert starts yelling in the back, I'm ready, you know, I'm ready to go to battle. You know, I don't, the only thing, you know, I come here, I come here to fight with my heart and leave it all out there every time. I'm just, every time I step in there, I just wanted to show, you know, my hard work. I wanted to show through my performance. So that's, I put pressure on myself to perform well and, you know, show my improvements every fight. And I think I've been doing a good job of it. So you don't want the title shot just yet? No, I don't want the title shot just yet. I don't want to, I've said it before, I don't want to sound cliche over and over, but I don't want to build myself up and fall short of the title and then back at the bottom, you know, I want to improve every fight.

And when I do get the title shot, I'm going to take it and I'm going to hold it for a long time. I just don't want to get there premature and have to work back up to it. You know, brick by brick, it's going to happen. I will be a world champion. May 15th, 2012, UFC on Fuel TV 3, Fairfax, Virginia. After a 4-0 start to his UFC career, Jorge is booked opposite the Korean zombie as the main event. Jorge suffers his first defeat in the UFC and loses by Darstchoke late in the fourth round. Jorge would rebound with the Darstchoke victory over Jonathan Brookens later that year at the Ultimate Fighter 16 finale. However, Jorge would drop his following fight by decision against Cubs Swanson at UFC on Fuel TV 7. April 6, 2013.

UFC on Fuel TV 9. Musasi v. Latifi, Stockholm, Sweden. The notorious Connor McGregor makes his UFC debut on the undercard in Stockholm, Sweden. He demolishes Marcus Brimidge by K.O. in a little over a minute into the first round. August 17, 2013. UFC Fight Night 26, Shogun v. Sunnan,

Boston, Massachusetts. McGregor's next fight is the 21-year-old Max Holloway, at the time the youngest fighter on the UFC roster. Even though McGregor was not the main event or even on the main part, he received a champion's walkout, entering the cage to dropkick Murphy's shipping out to Boston. The fight itself is marred by injuries to both sides, McGregor with a knee injury and Hollow with a foot injury. McGregor wins a unanimous decision. You've been the story all week here in Boston. Did you notice that you got a main event type of walkway? walk out. They followed you from the locker room with the lights down and everything. Did you notice that?

Yeah, they said, they said, because Max was a little bit ahead of me and then the guy came up. No, no, Conno, you're going to walk back here. And I said, yeah, like champions. So I knew. You know what I mean? I feel like a champion. No. Honestly, man, put me in my anyone, anyone on the world. And I'm dangerous for the mall. I'm just looking for my time to prove it. And it will come. Final question. We have a lot of Irish fans. A lot of them waiting for this interview. You are first in person together. Anything. It's nice to meet you.

It is a pleasure. I like to check with the blazer. I like that look. You're going to see my one now. Hopefully, if I get the show at the press conference, you're going to see a real tree piece. You're going to see style. So tune in and take notes.

The support out there was unbelievable. It was green walking out there. The place was green. There was green flags, fucking leprechauns floating around. It was unbelievable. You know what I mean? It was brilliant. August 31st, 2013.

164, Henderson versus Pettis 2, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Porreier returns to action against Eric Koch. Porre wins by unanimous decision. December 28, 2013, UFC 168, Widman versus Silva 2, Las Vegas, Nevada. Dustin Porreier is matched up against Ultimate Fighter winner Diego Brandao. Porre defeats Brandau by TKO late in the first round. The diamond follows up that victory by defeating Akira Khorasani by second round knockout. July 19th, 2014.

UFC Fight Night 46, Mogher v. Brandau, Dublin, Ireland. After nearly a year out of the cage recovering from the knee injuries suffered in the Holloway match, McGregor returns as the main event in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland. He faces the Ultimate Fighter season 14 winner Diego Brandau. One thing I do know is that I have a clear, clear vision that that gold belt is around. my waist by the end of this year. At the end of 2014? And I don't know why it's clear as day that that belt is wrapped around my waist.

And these visions that I've been having, like I spoke at the start of the interview, they seem to be coming true. I seem to have a habit of predicting the future. So I will never go against that. I will embrace it and encourage it. What other visions can you share with us? I mean, do you see the 155 pound title? Do you see, anything else you can tell us?

100%. I see it all, Ariel, my friend. You know, I see it all. Honestly, I'm coming. I'm coming for the gold. I'm coming for all of it. I'm taking over the game. You just sit back and relax and watch me take over the game.

Considering you haven't fought in 11 months, are you almost anxious to get back in there? How would you describe your emotions just a couple days away? Honestly, I am calm, composed, prepared. I have never felt better. Like I said, I feel different. People are saying, all this pressure. You know, I want this illusion of pressure

because I don't feel jack shit, Ariely. I want more of it. So when I go out there and beat this guy and make it look easy, which I will do, how did that guy do that? I tell you what? let's skip the queue with this guy and that's what it will happen. These things don't happen often. People say things people dream but it's very rare for it's all come to fruition.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It is pretty trippy all right. I mean like to think that I said this to you, before I'd even had my debut, that was gonna drag them back and now here we are. Before the time that was set, the estimated time now we're back here. You know what I mean? It's crazy how things just form, dreams just form into reality. But now, like, and then when I start getting that focus and realize, you know, fuck I'm gonna make this happen and then now that has happened I'm making it happen I'm I have a great relationship with me dad like we talk all the time and I even see energy in it and I see energy in my mind like it's depressing times for a lot of people are on there's a lot of

bad stuff going on in the country a lot of people are struggling everybody's struggling but now since them seeing me chase this dream it's giving them an energy and I and I see a new lease of life in them. And that alone spores me on even more. So it's all just a perfect storm that's happening for me. And that is why I have this ton of vision. And that is why I'm willing to kill every single man in my path to get that belt. You know what I mean? To secure the future, my family's future. You know what I mean? That's what I'm doing for. The notorious one defeats Brandau within a round, earning another performance of the night check. Journalist Kevin Ioli would go on to call this night of fights, the greatest event in UFC history.

Connor, I've never experienced anything like that. All my years covering this sport. Is this the greatest moment of your life? Without doubt it's the greatest moment, I know. I knew. I knew, like, all week day and Lorenzo walking around like fanboys, you know what I mean, really excited by this, you know, the artist's crowd, we let ourselves be heard, you know, I mean, we don't hold back, as you could tell by and say that arena. I've been to a good few events now. I've competed on Zoom and then I've been, I've been, I guess that others, I've never experienced that in my life. You've even been at more.

you've never experienced it. You know, we are the Irish. We love to fight. Is Connor McGregor for real? 100% man, you know, for real. I'm telling people I'm going to do anything. I think now people will start believing. I don't give a shit what people say.

I never did. I never do. I told you before the fight I was the shit. I'm telling you right now I'm the shit. September 27th, 2014. UFC 178. Johnson versus Kariasa. Las Vegas, Nevada. Connor McGregor makes his Vegas debut.

He is set to face top 10 ranked featherweight, Dustin, the diamond pourier. Who looks the best up here? You know it, you know it. That's a Rolex sky dweller. It's a beautiful timepiece. It's shine off of it, that's nice. It's important as a strategy to spend the money so that you're never comfortable. It's my foolproof plan. Make it, blow it, make it again. At home I can't go anywhere, you know, I get more. everywhere I go. It's crazy back home. There's murals that high. You know what I mean?

And they're all over the city now so it's phenomenal. But inside the gym, inside doors, nothing has changed. Everything is the same. I still show up, I still whoop ass, and I continue on this path of taking every single better way's head, clean off their shoulders until I get that goal. Hey, you know, I don't, I'm just doing my, I'm just being myself. I, this is who I am. I like to look good and whoop ass. It's what I do best. You know, I'm not, I'm not trying to be nobody but me, you know, September 27, I'm going to rip Dustin's head clean off, you know. It makes no difference about nothing. Just a little pea head.

Dustin thinks it's all talk. Dustin thinks it's all talk. But when he wakes up with his nose plastered on the other side of his face, he's going to know it's not all talk. His weakness is, obviously, his chin, you know. Look, don't get me wrong. I like the kid. He's a quiet little hillbilly from the back ass of nowhere. You know, I've nothing against the guy.

You know what I mean? I'm sure he grew up in a circus or a fair. You know, he's a nice little kid. So, Cletus, or, you know, his cousin's probably named Cletus or something. I don't know. He's a nice kid. But his chin is going to be cracked, and it's going to be cracked early. And I don't hit like these people.

He talking, I haven't got experience at the top level. You know, he main evented one UFC event and lost. I main evented my hometown, and it was one of the best UFC events in history, and I stopped the guy inside one round. So, you know, I'm experienced there. He will know pretty early that he's in over his head. He'll wake up and he'll bow before me. My confidence comes from looking around at the division.

I don't see anything in the division that troubles me, not one of them. They don't move like I move, they don't think like I think, and they don't talk like I talk. That's my confidence. I mean, is there anyone in this room that could fill a football stadium? Is there anyone in the UFC that could fill a football stadium? He might say there's maybe two, three max athletes in the UFC that could fill a football stadium. Stadium and you're speaking to one right now. So there's no doubt I am up there, but again, the fight must take place, the performance must be put on, so I don't read too much into it.

I just embrace it and enjoy it and carry on. What do the fans want to see? And there's no denying what the fans want to see. The fans want to see McGregor in for a world title. There's no denying that. So we will see what way they play it. I will certainly campaign for it with everything I have and I will go out everyone in the division until I get it. Did that just take you over the edge, what transpired yesterday? No, not just that. I dislike the guy before that. But, yeah, usually I don't have, like, not that I love the guys I fight, but I usually

don't dislike him this much. You know, I don't like Connor. He's an asshole. McGregor wins by knockout in under two minutes. The victory earns McGregor his second consecutive performance of the night bonus. This would be Porre's last fight at 5. featherweight. Of course I want that gold belt. Don't try and tell me that that gold belt sitting up right there on this table would not look great to go alongside this ivory elephant trunk suit that I

have got on me right now. It would look perfect. I know Dana wants to see it. I know Lorenzo wants to see it. Shout out to Uncle Frank. I know he wants to see it. It's what the fans want. It's what I want. It's what I said. I was going to put him away in one round. No one's ever knocked him out. No one has ever done that to Dustin before. He's a great guy. I have nothing. but respect from. I don't just knock them out. I also picked around. This is all fun and games to me. I love it. I love my job. I whip people for truckloads of cash. How could I hate this life? I love it so much. I am grateful every single day. I don't like making this way. You know what I mean? I like fighting that light weight. I fought a lightweight many times in my

career. I'm fast that light weight. I come in refresh that light weight. It's a different, It's a different camp. It's a different... It's a different builder when I'm fighting at lightweight than it is to fighting afed a way. So I'm definitely open to fighting at featherweight, no doubt.

I don't feel oversized by the lightweights. And so, definitely. Do you mean your kind of spirit is different when you're in lightweight because you're not able to die outside? I mean, would your spirit not be different if you go into a steakhouse with your team and they're ordering like 64 ounce riboies,

rare ribbyes, marbled and delicious delicious flavors and it's cooked on the stone they bring it on the stone so it's actually not even cooked and the stone is sizzling and then you put the

you put like butter on it and it's sizzles it and cooks it and then I show up can I have chicken and I can have some salmon and spinach please that's what I'm talking about I want to show up at these places two weeks out from my fight and be like give me the 64 ounce

rib eye I'll have an extra of plenty, some sweet potato mash, and I'll also have a dessert. That is what I want. January 18, 2015, UFC Fight Night 59, McGregor v. Sever, Boston, Massachusetts. With the UFC promotional machine, now fully behind Connor McGregor,

he is booked in his first televised main event against veteran striker Dennis Seaver. The showcase fight is booked as a step towards eventually promoting a title fight against the champion Jose Aaldo, who was flown in from Brazil to be caged side for the event. What do you make of Josealdo being here, watching your fight, and perhaps the idea of bringing him into the cage if you win? Yeah, yeah, do it, no problem. I would have been in the cage in Rio only he took an ass-wop and I couldn't go into the cage.

You know, how can I go into the cage when his face is out here and he's... But, of course he can bring him into the cage against me, because there won't be a scratch on me. There won't be a mark on my face. I'll be almost more fresher in that octagon after the fight than Jose will be sitting in the crowd. So bring him in and we can do it. It means nothing that he is here, you know, really.

The individual does not matter to me, you know. It's always the same. It's a blank face and a new body type and it makes no difference. But let's do it. Let's bring him in. Let's go face to face. and let's make this, let's, let's get this fight done.

Of course, tomorrow night, the Irish invasion continues. McGregor fulfills his end of the deal and demolish receiver, finishing him by TKO early in the second round. McGregor immediately jumps out of the cage and taunts the champion Aldo. They all think it's fun in games, so I'm not playing here. And now, now it's time. Now, now we have a location. Now Jose is next in line.

and he will be the next one to learn that it's not all talk and it's no joke. I said I was going to kill everybody and wipe out the division. Now we have one man left. July 11, 2015, UFC 189, McGregor versus Mendez, Las Vegas. After a worldwide press tour to promote Aldo versus McGregor, Jose Aldo withdraws from the fight with a rib injury, and former number one contender Chad Mendez steps in to face McGregor on just 12 days' notice. You know, my mind is absolutely bulletproof.

as a rock. I am number one. So if you are number one, who gives a shit if number two steps out in place of number three? At the end of the day, I'm number one. So it makes no difference who is standing across. The octave gone from me. I will win. And of course, as you said, the fans that have come over here, you know,

to make the trip from my home city to here to Las Vegas is a once in a lifetime trip for a lot of people. It takes a lot of debt, a lot of sacrifice and a lot of saving. up. So, of course I was going to show up and compete, regardless of who was across from me. That's why I was willing to take the 155 pound fight, the 170 pound fight, whatever fight was available, I was going to take a fight. So I am happy to be here and I am happy to be representing my country on this stage. I am happy to be given the UFC a $7.1 million gate because it is me who has given them this gate. Nobody else. Realistically, realistically, Dave here shouldn't even be up here. I should be on that podium. I should be standing. I should be standing.

standing right there. That should be my spot and Dave maybe you should say here because it's me who's at the bring in all this. 7.1 million dollar gay, highest numbers every time. We have we have superstars singing us into the octagon. Who do you think got that? Me. Chad is an overblown midget. Tomorrow night I'm gonna cut them in half and raise gold for Ireland for my country. Good luck to you sir. Connor McGregor ladies and gentlemen. KOs Mendez with only seconds left in the second round. Han McGregor is the new UFC interim featherweight champion.

The fight also earns McGregor his fourth consecutive performance of the night award. It has been a hell of a ride. Two years, just over two years I'm here. I've already broke every single record in the game and it does not come easy. Trust me when I tell you, there's a lot of work involved. It's not just about shown up at the gym. It's not just about that. there's a lot involved. I have been living in, I haven't been home. I've been home 19 days this year.

And I've been constantly walking, constantly promoting, constantly handling my media obligations, as well as keeping on top of my weight, as well as keeping on top of my skill level, as well as managing niggling injuries. Just, it's a crazy game. And, you know, I absolutely love it. I love this job. I love this game. I love this ride I'm on. I am happy to have taken the goal. It would not matter if it was Jose or it was Chad. This was my belt. This was my night.

December 12, 2015, UFC 194, Aldo versus McGregor in Las Vegas. Champion versus Champion. Joe Zayaldo versus Connor McGregor. I visualize entering the contest. Unpredictable. I will pressure him. I will evade him. I will strike him with every limb, the knee, the heel, the fist, the elbow.

I will be a ghost in there. He will think I'm there and then I am not there. He will think I am not there and then I am there. So I'm going to put on a masterpiece for this fight. This will prove my point that I am the number one. McGregor knocks out Aldo in 13 seconds to become the undisputed UFC featherweight champion. The loss snaps Aldo's 18-fight winning streak, spanning nine years and its 10th consecutive title defense under the UFC and WEC banner.

What did Floyd and money do? They're at 4.6 million. No, that was biased. I'm talking about gay. Oh, 72 million gay. 72 million gay? We done 10 point more than I'm catching up. I'm only 27. Them old motherfuckers are 40. Before they got that on.

I'm only warming up. So I said to Lorenzo and I said to Dane, I'm bringing these big numbers. I'm bringing these half a billion dollar revenue numbers. Like the Mayweather Pack You Out fight done. So at 27 years of age, I stand here as the Unified World Champion. Back-to-back gate records in the MGM.

This is trending as the highest pay-per-view. Shaller, I believe, said, of all time for the UFC. So, at 27 years of age, with every record in the book, with weight divisions above, ready for me to go at superfights left and right, tell me one other champion that's been like that.

Every other champion gets a belt, and they don't want to go up, or they don't want to go down. I'm going straight up, so I'm bringing these big numbers and the sky is the limit. Just to clear it up, there's talk of you going up, we don't know what's going to happen,

but you don't want to vacate that title. You will not vacate it. No, no, there's no way. I'm an active fighter. If I was inactive, like, previous champions or other champions, I don't understand vacane, but I'll go up,

and by the time I win the lightweight belt, it would still only be a couple months, but while the Vetterway belt is not active. So I am an active champion, so I will keep my belt, and I will go up and add more belts. That's what we must do here. There's no vacane.

And that's not happening. I keep my belt. This is my division. Connor, in February of 2013, we spoke for the first time. You didn't have a car. You didn't have a pot to piss in. All you had were blueberries. Now here you are with the undisputed gold.

Enjoy it, my friend. You deserve it. You called it. Yeah, from nothing to something to everything. So that's where I am right now. January 2nd, 2016. UFC 195, Lawlor v. Condit, Las Vegas, Nevada. Now fighting at lightweight, Jorge bounces back from the McGregor loss with a victory over Diego Feheda at UFC Fight Night 63, Mendez versus Llamas, and Yante Medeiros at UFC at UFC, Henderson versus Boch.

Now 2-0 at lightweight in the UFC, Jorge is matched up against the last person to defeat McGregor, Joe Duffy. I'm a lot more mature in my fighting career than I used to be. Normally, I think I would have got burned out. When I was at featherweight, I would have overthought this fight so much. you know, just beat myself up for six months, but I'm kind of laid back now, man. I just, uh, just more relaxed with who I am and I'm having fun again. And it hasn't really been a lot of pressure, honestly. I feel this is the smoothest fight week I've ever had, and I feel like it's getting easier.

How do you first see it going down? You know, I really feel like I'm going to be smart in this fight and show all my skills. You know, I can wrestle, man. I can kickbox. I can box. My jihitsu is good. And, um, I want to show all of that. I want to show a well-rounded performance.

I'm a different animal here at lightweight and I'm just evolving as a fighter and as a person, man. I feel great and there's not a spot that this fight can go that I won't be comfortable and I'm going to show that. Jorge wins by unanimous decision. Yeah, you know, I thought his boxing was going to be good

and it was. I knew he had a good ground game, a lot of submissions on his record. I executed the game plan. Me and my coaches had. I stayed in his face, put him against the fence and grinded on him, you know, got him tired and that was the game plan. Yeah, when I got off the stool for the second round, I couldn't breathe it all through my nose.

I just got back from the hospital. It was broken in two spots. So, you know, I just did what I had to do, took him down and took advantage of that. What do you think makes sense next for you? I think there's a lot of fights out there that makes sense, man. My goal was to crack the top 10 last year. That didn't happen with the fight falling out. Hopefully I'll be up there now and I want top 10 opponents.

March 5, 2016, U.S. 196 McGregor v. Diaz, Las Vegas. Originally booked as Dosanjos versus McGregor for the lightweight title, the lightweight champ Dosanjas suffers a foot injury and is forced to withdraw from the card. 2015 was my year. 2016 is also my year. Every year is my fucking year. With only a little over a week until the fight, top 10 lightweight Nathan Diaz is selected to be McGregor's new opponent.

The new main event will be contested at Walterweight. I'm going to play with him. Now, he's, his entries and his exits, his retreats, his faints, his patterns are all identical. He can't break out of his set routine, so he was very, very predictable. I think the speed, you know, people gave Jose the speed advantage. But that was a mistake. When the fight began, I had the clear speed advantage. I was lying on my feet, zipped in and out.

I think it will be very, very evident the speed difference. I also know he's heavy on his lead. foot but really now he's like an injured gazelle and he's more heavy on his left foot so these are these are subtle tales that I tell so I'm gonna go in a play with him there are many many shots the Maya Lua the 360 round house the soft body on him he has a he has a soft flabby body like he was a fat guy that got it all figured out but who do you train with he's a soft no training partner he doesn't matter you again you're trying to pass the line I train with this guy look at him go video him get that

camera away from me I tapped out by two I'm trying of a man who's scared for his life. Man up and be yourself. You're like a gazelle. You're a little bunched up together, hoping that you get spared. But I'm a lion. You knocked out midgets. I'm a lion in there and I'm going to eat you alive.

Your little gazelle friends are going to be staring through the cage, looking at you getting, your carcass getting eaten alive. And they can do no. All they're going to deal is say, we're never going to cross this river again. Where's your boxing? Who do you train with? You got that little goofy motherfucker. with you. You got that skinny real. I got real training.

I got real training. Who do you train with? Top 10. I'd slap the head off your whole team one boy, one. You want your big brother. Top 10. You guys. Top 10 kickboxers. You don't got your playing touch butt with that dork in the park, the ponytail. I'm the one that I got no training partner. I don't think so. Seem to have it all figured out when you're fighting midgets. Got shit. Bring your training partners in. You're going to need them.

My whole team will fucking beat your whole team. Yes, how about that? Nate Diaz defeats Connor McGregor by second round, Rear Naked Choke. You know, it's a bitter pill to swallow. I took a shot. I went at it. I feel I was simply inefficient with my energy.

Usually I fight a man in the division I am championing. And they crumble under those shots. But Nate took them very well. The weight, I think, allowed him to take those shots well. So I think with a little bit of an adjustment and a recognition that the bigger man, you must be a bit more efficient with you're striking. You must not put everything into the shots. But I was simply inefficient with my energy.

I made some errors. You know, hats off to Nate, he fought very well. He stayed in there. A lot of people have crumbled under the shots. And his range was a factor. My left hand was falling short sometimes. the wheel kicks didn't really my will kicks weren't I threw them and missed and one at once or twice maybe hit a glove and I think they'd done more to my energy than they

did to his energy and it was simply a battle of energy in there and I and he got the better of that so yeah this is this is the game we win some we lose them I will never shy away from a challenge I will never shy away from defeat or, you know, this is part of the game. So I'm happy to come out there, continue and stay in this fight. I had many chances to not do this and sit and wait, but I went in. I took the fight and it didn't pay off. This is the fight business. It's another day.

I'll come back. June 4th, 2016. UFC 199, Rockhold versus Bisbing 2, Inglewood, California. Dustin Porrier fights lightweight veteran Bobby Green. You also recently signed a new contract with the UFC, right? And there was some talk that you would test free agency, but you didn't do that. Why did you decide to sign before going into free agency? I had one fight left, and I didn't want the pressure of, you know, you take big risks,

you get big rewards. So that was in my head the whole time I was negotiating. And like, maybe I should fight this last one, get another big win, and then I'll be, you know, my wife's pregnant right now. And in two months, we're going to have our first child. And I didn't want to go into the last fight of my contract with that in my mind. And that I have to, you know, this is, I have to win this fight to get a better contract. Or I'm taking steps back and all that.

I wanted to have more security. So I signed the contract. And here we are. You happy with it? Yeah, of course I want more money. Yeah. But I'm happy. The Diamond wins by first round knockout.

August 20th, 2016. U.S. 202, Diaz v. McGrath. L. Vegas. Originally booked as the main event for UFC 200, the UFC rebukes the highly anticipated rematch between Nate Diaz and Connor McGregor as the main event for UFC 202. You don't know. Diaz show! I do this way! Fuck you!

People who criticize Team Diaz for leaving the press conference just over here. What do you think from a professional standpoint? Like I said, fuck Team Diaz! And if you're down with Team Diaz, then for you're down with Team Diaz, then for you Fuck you do. This is a huge fight. Perhaps the most important fight of your career. Give us your thoughts on this rematch.

He should have killed me when he had the chance, because now I'm back and I'm going to kill you and your whole fucking team. You and them bitch kids. Connor McGregor wins the five-round war by majority decision. The grudge match is believed to be the highest selling pay-per-view in UFC history. It was a hell of a fight. I feel I have more skills. But boy is he won tough motherfucker.

He keeps on walking forward. He took every shots. I dropped him multiple times. He just keeps coming. His face was bust open and he's still coming forward. But I learned from the last contest. I stayed calm. I bounced the shots off my shoulders.

I stayed tight in the pocket. I knew I was going to have that moment where he was going to be in my face and dig his forehead under my chain and start unloading. So I cut shots and deflected shots and then hit him to the body a couple of times and it turned the momentum again in my favor. But it was a hell of a fight.

He's a hell of a competitor. The whole lot of it brought out the best of me. It forced me to look at myself truly. I'm just very, very happy with everything. It was a hell of a camp. Hell of a preparation. And we got it done tonight. It was not easy.

It was a war. I'm happy it went that way. I got the show my heart in there. I took it to him. and I stayed in and got the win so I'm very happy with it. You know, I don't care what anyone says. I help bring this game to another level. You can deny that all they want, but I did.

Like look at Nate's Ports tonight. Look at Nate's Ports after the force fight. I look at everyone's game has gone up. Money-wise. And I helped do that. So after that fight when I lost and I'm looking at all these people and they're all celebrating my demise and saying I'm done and this. It certainly lit a fire under my belly.

Every single person doubted me. Every single fighter doubted me. It doubted me now. September 17, 2016. UFC Fight Night 94, Porre v. Johnson, Hidalgo, Texas. Porre is booked in the main event opposite top ranked Michael Johnson. Dustin Porre has his lightweight winning streak snapped after a brutal knockout one minute and 35 seconds into the first round.

Horead would bounce back with a decision victory over Jim Miller at UFC 208, Holm versus Durandumee. November 12, 2016. UFC 205 Alvarez versus McGregor, New York City, New York. The featherweight champ, Connor McGregor, will face the lightweight champ, Eddie Alvarez, in an attempt to be the first UFC fighter to hold two UFC belts, in two weight classes simultaneously. I just don't. I feel Eddie, I've nothing against.

Be careful. Be careful. I have nothing against Edward. Oh, what? What are you going to do? Or what? You're going to do something over there? Be careful. Shut your fucking mouth.

I run New York. I run this whole shit. And Mystic Mac predicts I'm going to kill you inside one round. Is there been enough for you in this? fight or are you looking to make a specific statement? No, I came for an apology from him. I want to apology for saying my wife and kids.

Suck these big Irish balls! McGregor knocks out Alvarez in the second round, becoming the UFC lightweight champion and the UFC's first fighter to hold two belts in two-weight divisions concurrently. And then that's it. They've got to come talk to me now because no one's came to talk to me since the sale has happened. As a businessman I've been approached, says hello and that type of stuff. but I've earned something.

I've earned... Like, I mean, who owns the company now? There's... People have shares in the company. Celebrities... Conan O'Brien owns the UFC nowadays, so where's my share? Where's my equity?

If I'm the one that's bringing this, I mean, they've got to come talk to me now. That's all I know. I've got boat belts, a chunk of money. A little family on the way. You want me to sit around? Do you want me to keep doing what I'm doing? Let's talk.

I want the ownership now. I want equal share. I want what I deserve, what I've earned. So, um, there's a little announcement. Look, it feels, it feels great. Um, it feels familiar. I saw it so clearly. I swear to God, I saw it so clearly, so consistently until I just, until it's here in reality.

So I've been saying this a long time. Um, I'm very confident in, in my abilities and what I'm predicting. I'm going to do. And, um, and I back it up. I back it up with work ethic. I back it up with hours upon hours of time and dedication. I never slip. I never take a second off this game.

So I'm very, very satisfied, very grateful, very happy. But not surprised. I know what I knew what was going to happen for me. May 13, 2017. UF.C. 211, Miochich versus Dos Santos, 2, Dallas, Texas. Jorge is matched up against former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. As far as this matchup is concerned, I mean, he just fought on one of the biggest fights of all time against McGregor at MSG loses in dramatic fashion, then comes back with you. Were you surprised when they gave you Eddie?

This is a big, I mean, it's a high-profile fight, right? What was your reaction? Well, I was going to chill out for a little bit and hang out with my daughter and stuff. and then I told him I was going to come back a few months later, unless they had a big fight for me, and then they ended up coming with Eddie's name, and I was like, let's go, I'll fight whenever. This is a great opportunity for me, you know.

He's one fight removed from being the world champion, like you said. I go out there and finesse Eddie Alvarez on Saturday night. It shows the world the caliber of fighter I am. In the highly entertaining bout, Alvarez and Porre fight to a no contest due to an illegal knee strike by Alvarez. I'm dying to get your thoughts on the Eddie Alvarez. versus Dustin Porreier fight because for the second pay-per-view in a row, a bit of controversy surrounding an illegal knee.

This time, Alvarez lands two illegal knees here in Texas. They have not adopted the new rules. So all you need is one hand on the ground, if your knees on the ground as well, in order for it to be illegal if the strike lands. And that was the case for Dustin Porreier. But referee Herb Dean, he decided that, The strike wasn't intentional. So as a result, he ruled it a no contest.

This has been hotly debated, controversial. Some think it should be a DQ. Eddie should have lost. What do you think should have been done? I personally think it should have been a DQ. I don't feel strongly about it. And I wouldn't argue against the no contest. But the justification for the no contest is interesting to me, right?

Because it's not, it's intent. It's all intent. He says that's an accidental knee. but when he says that he doesn't mean that he didn't mean to throw the knees. He means that Eddie didn't mean to throw an illegal strike. And at that point, we're just predicting what's in Eddie's head. And we're getting into a weird gray zone. But just in general, the one thing that stood out to me for that fight,

I mean, I do the pros react column for our website. And if you look at the pros react column for that fight, most of it were professional UFC fighters, all of whom were saying, I don't know the rule, more or less. There was people saying that's legal. There were people saying that's not legal. There were people saying they just didn't know whether what it was at all and they didn't know the rule. And I think that's more telling than anything that we need to get this figured out.

Corey would bounce back from this no contest with a main event victory over another former UFC champion, Anthony Pettis, at UFC Fight Night 120 in Norfolk, Virginia. August 27, 2017, Mayweather v. McGregor, Las Vegas, Nevada. In what many labeled as the biggest fight in combat sports history, the UFC, for the first time ever, allows a fighter under contract to participate in a professional boxing match. Connor McGregor is booked to make his professional boxing debut against the 49-0, Floyd Money, Mayweather. Does this mic? Well, then fuck that mic. Hound up tree.

I want everyone in this arena to scream at the top of your lungs. Fuck the Maywethers. One, two, three. Count the tree, I want this entire arena to scream. Fuck the Maywethers. Two, three, fucking nothing. Well, for the longest time, we thought it wouldn't happen. In fact, as recently as tonight, it still kind of felt surreal that Floyd Mayweather and Connor

McGregor would box inside a ring in front of a crowd in Las Vegas and people would actually be able to pay to watch this happen. But it happened, my friends. It actually happened. And in the end, Floyd Mayweather won via 10th round TKO. It was an entertaining affair. Connor McGregor did a hell of a lot better than many boxing pundits thought. It was a good fight.

I thought I smoked them the early rounds. I thought I bushed you up the early rounds. But I tell you what, you're one composed individual. You didn't get rattled. You tucked in when you needed to tuck in. I thought you switched up your game plan three times. You came out looking to box. I thought you were being outbox early on.

You look to play against the ropes like you look to play. You were getting picked off there. And then you came in hands up towards your forehead, dipped in forehead on the chest and started to fight that kind of fight. I didn't anticipate that three game changes in the fight. That's what a true champion does. Much respect. You came with it.

You know what I mean? I got to give respect to that. It was a hell of a fight. I would have liked to see the end of the tent. I think fatigues. There's like a patch. patch somewhere in the middle of fights even with the Diaz 2 fight I have this patch where I must overcome I get a little wobbly and I start kind of but it's more fatigue and I can't if you look at

the Diaz 2 fight I came through that came back round 4 around 5 I would have likened to see round the end of round 10 and see where it brought us but hell of a competitor switched it up kept the pressure you've got to give your hat off to Floyd a hell of a career congratulations it was a good fight it was a bit of fun right It was a bit of fun. April 14th, 2018, UFC on Fox 29, Porriere versus Gaichi,

Glendale, Arizona. Porre is booked in the main event against top-ranked Justin Gaichie. Is there a certain level of mental preparation? You have to go through two and sort of conditioning yourself with a guy with a guy like Justin, Eddie talked about it before,

of like stealing himself, knowing that he's going to go into a war type of situation. Yeah, like I know there's going to be some times in this fight where, you know, it's going to be, you know, tough. It's going to have to dig down. That's going to present itself. It might present itself often.

I don't know, but I'm prepared mentally for whatever it takes. Like I said, I'm willing to leave a piece of myself in there to get the victory Saturday night. In a fight of the year contender, Borier defeats Kei by Keough early in round four. Tiago Alves, before we walked out there, said when he gets too happy with that leg kid, let's plant and throw something down the middle. And that's what we did, you know, but I took too many of them. There's no, you know, even if that was the, you know, even if that was the, a plan to sit down and take shots. I need to absorb them better or change my angle to where they're not flush and lifting my body off balance and stuff like that. I need to make some adjustments on my

end. Honestly, this whole camp, I expected him to throw outside leg kick. So I watched the Michael Johnson fight a few times. And he was switch kicking a lot. And he really didn't throw a whole lot inside on Michael Johnson. And that's what I expected. So it was just a different fight than I thought it was going to be when it comes to leg kicks. I want to fight for gold, man. I'm not chasing rematches with Connor, rematch with Eddie, rematch with anybody. That's not my goal. My goal isn't to get even with these guys. My goal is to prosper and be a world champion and make money and retire and say I did it. You know, I just want to go to sleep with that belt around my waist one night and tell my wife I did it. Well, you know, years and years ago, like in 2006, my wife was, I didn't have a car.

She would drive me to weigh-ins. We would sleep and broken down motels and now I would fight the next day. Just me and her, you know. And I just want to say I did it, man. Ford was built on the belief that the world doesn't get to decide what you're capable of. You do. So ask yourself, can you or can't you? Can you load up a Ford F-150 and build your dream with sweat and steel? Can you chase thrills and conquer curves in a mustache? Can you take a Bronco to where the map ends and adventure begins?

Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. Ready? Ford. July 28, 2018. UFC on Fox 30. Alvarez versus Porreier, 2. Calgary, Alberta. Porriet is once again booked in a rematch

with Eddie Alvarez as the main event. It's happening. You know, it's happening. I'm excited, man. I'm grateful every morning I wake up happy and grateful that I'm here, that Eddie's here, that we got him here, and that we got 25 minutes to find out who the better man is.

In a wildly entertaining and violent fight, Jorge defeats Alvarez by knockout four minutes into the second round. Weird thing is, man, when I had a guillotine, he was trying to drive up my body. He stuck his finger in my ear and was like pulling my head down and the ref warned him. And then he put his finger right back in my ear. So, I mean, this is an old dog who knows a lot of tricks. And I don't want to say somebody's a dirty fighter. But first fight you need me, second fight you try to elbow me illegally. and you give me a wet Willie,

there's got to be, we got to draw the line somewhere. Thanks, Dustin. Even though he stuck his finger on my ear tonight, man, he penetrated my ear. I still respect the guy now because we spoke out back after the fight and he said a couple things to me

that, you know, I respect the guy. October 6th, 2018, UFC 229, Habib versus McGregor, Las Vegas, Nevada. After a nearly two-year absence from the UFC, the former two-division champion,

Connor McGregor, is set to face the lightweight champion the undefeated Habib Narragamidov as the main event for UFC 229 at the T-Mobile arena. They were chased from their land. They were chased from their land to the edge of cliffs. My family, my bloodline, the McGregor clan, we stood and we fought and we

We fought the English Empire, so much so that our name was banished for 100 years by King James at the time. Okay, why are you going to change your language? Shoot your mouth. You guys said your own language. What's wrong with you? Now you talk about U. You guys like English empire. I can't speak Irish, I can speak my native tongue.

I can talk with you. I'm a character too. I'm a lot of Turkish Arabic. I'm a charactered. I can talk with your own. You know what that means? Can I have a show you on the bus? But I will entail their own language.

What's wrong? English change your language? Just for Dana real quick. The decision to put the Connor bus incident from Brooklyn into the promos for this fight, what was that decision like? Was that tough? Was there any consideration about not doing that? No, no.

No. Not tough at all. It's part of the storyline. It is what it is. There's been other situations where things have happened, up to a fight and you played the story the way that the story played out. Connor, you thought you thought it should have been in there in the promos? No comment.

What, Habib, same question, you're on the bus and you see all this going on. What is going through your head? Nothing. Nothing. You know, this is show his weakness. He showed me his weakness. He think when he, with 40 people... I showed you my bare hands. First thing. Okay, I'm...

Here's my hands. Like... No weapons. Get out of the bus, mate. Okay, two of five, you guys remember, you're doing all these actions. In backstage? Here I am with no, I would no, with no, with no, he was a very nice guy. With no weapons. When he comes with 40 people, he little bit changed, but this is show his weakness.

Me and him is going to be alone. Six October. And, and that's it. The Chechen people know what I'm talking about when I call this man a coward, when I called his father a quivering coward. Which, which, Chechen? The Pim and Khadiro were at a mosque together. And he posted. picture of Kadeirov on his Instagram site.

Kadeov is the Chechen Dictayer of a crazy man, don't get me wrong. But Kabeve's father, lick arse, lick arse, oh, fucking Heolahan, post a picture of Kadeov at this mosque. And Khabib's father post a picture up, and the caption is, together we are stronger. It's such fake respect out of fear. No, no, man, it's... The Chechens know, the Chechen people know that if the tables were turned and there was an opportunity for his father to Stop that man in the back. He would do it in a heartbeat to take over.

And he did not do nothing. And that's why he is a quivering coward because he showed fake respect out of fear. And that's where that came from. I don't know what his father teaching, but my father teach me, you cannot never give up and be respect always. This is what my father teach me.

Mama, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma. Shut your mouth, mate. You're a doorbox. You're absolutely. Your last fight was embarrassing. Your last fight was embarrassing. Right now, right now. I am most active and dominant UFC champion right now.

We were laughing in the Brooklyn, this is my third fight in last nine month, you know, and 26 and no, never lose round. And I don't know what this guy talking about. I don't understand what he gonna do 6 October. You think whiskey gonna help him? I don't understand. I know about you is where you might rock.

I know it's not about you as well. You keep you a melt, you kid. Let me take my picture. What's up, guys? 3 p.m. This conference is beginning. I'm not wait for nobody. Let's go.

If you have question, I'm here. I mean, what's your emotion right now? The biggest star in the sport, all these people wanting to see Connor and he's not here. What's your take on that? Listen, man, I'm excited. I can't wait for the weigh-ins. I can't wait for the fight.

There's in a car, right? But yeah, I'm excited. So far, so good. Everything's been perfect, and I'm ready for the fight, man. Nourogamadov would finish McGregor by submission three minutes into round four. After the victory, Nirmogamadov would climb and exit the cage and attack McGregor's cornerman, Dylan Dannis. After being restrained by security,

Habe would be escorted off the arena floor without an official handraised from the referee. I know understand how people can talk. about I jump on the cage you know what about he talked about my religion he talked about my country he talked about my father he come to Brooklyn and he broke bus he almost killed couple people what about this what about this shit why people talk about I jump over the cage why people still talk about this like I know understand I am respect I my father teach me hey you have to be always respectful my old team where I'm training California seven years

Everybody know who I am, all my friends, like everybody who know me, they know who I am, you know. And I told you guys, these guys, not only him, his old team and him, they tap machines. You know, I told you guys, when you put him wrong way, he's going to tap. You know, what happened today? Like they call him two-time world champion, like two-weight classes. But today he tap. And that's why, al-hambulah, belt is here, undisputed, undefitted, U.S. to a champion and you know and I want to say to something like you know like people

little bit it's not people I think it's media media a little bit changed in my way this is respect sport you know this is not trash talking sport this is respect so like I told you before guys I want to change this game I don't want people talk shit about like opponents talk shit about his father like like religion you you cannot talk about religion you cannot take about nation you know guys you cannot talk about this stuff and you know this is for me is very important and thank you so much thank you guys thank you for waiting for me here I know my my father gonna smash me when I go home because I know he's gonna smash me and Nevada sorry Vegas sorry and

alhamdulillah undisputed un defeated the UFC Lightway Champion thank you so And I'm very proud about like all media talk about he took picture with with Putin something like this he just called me and he said he very proud of me I win and he said congratulations and you know I told you guys everything I'm gonna change 6 October and I do this al-handollah thank you so much. Habib can you talk about the fight before the brawl? The biggest night ever I couldn't be more disappointed, you know.

You know me, I'm usually mad at everything, you know, but I'm not even mad. I'm just really disappointed. Dana, you said that the bus incident was disgusting. The press conference was the darkest press conference ever. Today you're disappointed. Do you regret using the bus footage, which kind of incensed, Conradle? I mean, but, I mean, looking back to kind of how it ended up right now,

would you do the same again? I would. Okay. It's part of the story. Yeah. Do you feel, Dana, if you had to be. taken action after the bus incident. Like, you know, the legal

process took place, but you were adamant you weren't going to do anything. Had you suspended Connor for you know, ex period of time? You don't think that would have had any deterrent. It had nothing to do with that. He wasn't coming back and saying he wants to jump over the fence because we didn't suspend Connor. Jumped over the fence because Connor's guy was talking

shit to him. No, I understood, but don't you think that just the fact that set the tone like it allowed that to happen if there had been some... Do you have any idea how much money it cost Connor? The whole thing that is... fucking millions of dollars. But the signal, like Kabeeb doesn't know that or Khabibb's team doesn't know that. I know that.

The argument, the point I'm making, not an argument, I'm asking you a question, would be, it's a deterrent effect. If you say you look in the NFL or wherever, they suspended guys for a period of time, it serves as a deterrent to not, other people to not do that same thing. And I guess that's what I'm saying, had you done, taken some action on the UFC part, he violated the code of conduct or whatever you want to say he did, would that not have maybe prevented some of the heated? stuff that happened this promotion.

I would, listen, we didn't, so I don't know, but I would say no. Habib Nomagamadov is given a nine-month suspension and fined $500,000 by the Nevada Athletic Commission. April 13, 2019, UFC 236, Holloway v. Porriere 2, Atlanta, Georgia. For the first time in his UFC career, the featherweight champ, Max Holloway, will go up in wait to rematch Dustin Porriere. However, this time the stakes will be much higher as the winner will be crowned, the new interim UFC lightweight champion.

I have a lot of respect to the guy. And that, you know, as a person, I remember when I beat him, he came to the locker room after and started talking to me, asking me, I guess he read somewhere that I cook a lot and stuff. He was like, so you cook and stuff. He was just a normal down-to-earth kid, man. Really, you know, really good guy. And we kind of spoke a little bit at UC-199.

We both fought. He fought a llama myself, fought Bobby Green that night. at the media day we kind of talked a little bit and it was good catching up then we've never had any animosity towards each other and like I said I have a lot of respect for this guy and I understand how good he is he's on the pound for a reason

and I'm just excited for the challenge you know the diamond defeats Holloway by decision to become the new interim UFC 155 pound champion one time my mouth was bleeding and I spit and I spit on him and the ref said hey you can't spit on him and he said like he knew I'd I didn't do it on accident.

I didn't like aim at him, but it just might have hit him. Man, it's a fist fight. You might get some spit on you. When I hit him with a good shot, he would say that was good or start clapping. When I need him in the face and before he started bleeding, when he picked his head up from the knee, I saw the gash. And I said, got you. And then, yeah, it was just, it was a battle, man. There were a couple times he hit me with some good shots.

It looked like I was fatigued, but I was hurt a couple times against the fence. just pull myself together, keep my feet under me, and keep believing. Like, I just had to have a second with myself. You know, like those thoughts creep in and I got to tell myself, don't talk to me like that. And that's what it was. Were you surprised at Max's durability? He took some heavy, heavy shots from you.

Yeah. You know, I was surprised I heard him that quickly in the first. And it looked like his feet were, his legs were definitely gone. You know, he took a couple steps back and started wobbling. and I've seen a lot of Max's fights. I've never seen him really hurt like that. So I went a little crazy trying to put him away, which has got me in trouble in past fights.

But the guy's so tough, man. This was my 40th fight tonight, and there's only been two fights that my hands, they're going to be swollen and hurting tomorrow. There was a Gaichi fight, and now Max. September 7, 2019, UFC 242, Habib v. Porier, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates.

The undefeated lightweight champion Habib Narma Gamedov will return from his suspension and defend his title against the interim champion, Dustin Porriere, as the main event at UFC 242. So what's it like, you're fighting a world champion, you fight a guy that's also undefeated. And according to a lot of people, there isn't anybody in this division that can defeat him.

So where do you hear that motivation from? What's it like to have a team around you? to keep you charged up when everybody else is something they said yeah I've had I've had naysairs my whole life had overcome the odds but I have a solid team around me I feel good and like I said man I'm just in the moment and appreciative of this opportunity and I will not let us slip through my fingers I'm here to take full advantage of this capitalized and be though just you're the world champion Saturday night to have an opportunity to be great not many times in your life do the stars align and the universe give you an opportunity to truly be great to get a

stadium built in a country across the world you've never been to. I have an opportunity to be great and the great ones find the way. And I'm going to find away Saturday night, baby. The Eagle defeats the diamond by submission midway through round three. I'm all just wondering if maybe against the fence when I got underhooks, if I could have tried a little bit harder to get off the fence maybe. You know, but that's just questions that I'm going to have to live with for the rest of my life. I thought for sure he was winning the rounds, obviously, taking me.

down and dominating, but I felt like he was squeezing hard. We were getting slicker. I felt like he was getting a little weaker. I'm coming into this fight, I thought later in the third, fourth and fifth were going to be my rounds. Not that I was planning on giving up the first two, but I knew they were going to be tough. So coming back to the stool after each of those rounds, in the beginning, I wasn't getting damaged a whole lot with shots that were hurting. He cut me. But I thought the deeper we got in of the fight the more slick I was going to be able to be, but, you know, that's fighting, man. Stuff is tough. I felt like I couldn't get anything going with my stand-up. He's very awkward.

He dips his head and throws uppercuts. We never got into a, like an orthodox kickboxing or boxing exchange on the feet. It was all one punch at a time, or him dipping and throwing a knee, or him dipping and throwing an uppercut. I didn't get a really. I felt like the way he was pulling back, it was hard for me to set up my combinations and get into a rhythm. You know, I know I sound like I have a lot of excuses, but I was just so prepared, you know, for tonight. This one really hurts. You know, this was my 41st fight tonight. I'm only 30 years old.

I have just been through so much in my fighting career. It's like, I don't know what's next, you know? I thought, honestly, the last 10 weeks of training camp and preparing for this fight, I thought the stars were aligning and I thought this was my night. You know, I thought this was like destiny, but I don't want to just keep crying up here in front of you guys, man. But this just means a lot to me. And, you know, to get to have a performance like that. And in the moment I was just waiting for the each round, I thought I was going to start pulling away.

and start out pacing him later on in the fight. But he's just so his balance and his weight distribution against the fence. And when he's on top, it's so strong. Physically, he didn't feel overwhelming. I fought guys that are stronger than him. But skill-wise and balance-wise, he felt really good. I just really thought tonight I was going to fly back home to the United States. undisputed world champ so this really hurts but i'm gonna go back home and talk to my wife

you know like i said i have a lot of tread left on the tires i feel i felt good out there tonight i felt good this whole training camp i just i'm not fighting just to fight you know i've been fighting to be the world champ so these opportunities don't come that often i just need to go back home and then think about what could be next for me january 18th 2020 UFC 246. McGregor versus Soroni, Las Vegas, Nevada. Connor McGregor returns to action

against veteran Donald Soroni. The Mystic Mac prediction of how exactly you get this thing done. You know, I've had my back and forth with Donald throughout the years, right? The last time we spoke to each other, or even saw each other, would have been at that press conference

many years ago. So much has changed since then, right? I was the interim Fedowade World Champion at the time. Donald predicted. I wouldn't get through Aldo. I got through Aldo. He predicted I was too small for the 155 pound division.

I conquered that division. You know, we've had a good back and forth myself and Donald. And as time has gone on, you know, he's become a family man. Obviously, you've seen him compete so many times. It's hard not to respect Donald right now at this stage. And he has my respect. And although there will be blood spilled on January 18th, it will not be bad blood.

And for the Mystic Mac prediction, it will be a K.O. I'm going to go in. I'm going to look to acquire rounds in here. I'm not going to be in a rush. I'm going to put pressure on Donald. Going to hurt Donald. But if you can last, I'll be happy. I'll be happy to acquire rounds in here and then build on these rounds.

I feel after the Diaz 2 buildup that I had and then the performance I had and the bout itself. And then lading into the Eddie Alvarez fight, I just felt like I was in prime condition and untouchable. So I'm looking to acquire that time in there again. So whichever one comes up first, like I said, God willing, I get out. get out safe on Saturday night whoever's up next I know a date was mentioned in March I'm up for March also

you're going to see a lot of me you know you're going to see a lot of me here so happy days for you all also I know all your eyes are light enough to you McGregor easily finishes off the former title challenger with a TKO in only 40 seconds and Hans Seroni his third straight TKO loss

I'm just you know what they say I just got a left hand. They'll have to say, I've just got a left shoulder as well. A left hand and a left shoulder. The so-called experts of the game when they'd be breaking down my skill set. They'd be saying,

I'm just a fighter with a left hand, which is highly disrespectful and uneducated. And I'd be surprised at some of the, so many of the supposedly knowledgeable people, they'd be just claiming it as that. So it's a good shot in the clinch. I see you can really catch a man. And so, I knew I caught him with a force one off guard, then I caught one or two more, and when we separated the nose and the eye was bust.

And it's a good shot. I've utilized that many times. Okay, the lightweight title will be there, right? That will be there, you know. You see the difference in the physique, the preparation and that. That will come back around that shot. So I'm certainly not going to, if this fight does go ahead, sit out and wait and then wait for true holidays. injuries and all this type of thing that goes with it.

So the who doesn't matter for me now. It's just I'm looking at dates now and I know March was there and I'm going to have a look at a calendar and see where we're at. Lorenzo gets back in from Panama on Tuesday so I'll toast a fine Irish whiskey with Lorenzo. I always look to do that, you know, tradition. I was talking with Dana. So he gets back on Tuesday to Vegas. So I'll stay here and I'll go for a dinner and a toast with Lorenzo and Dana and I'm sure we'll

we'll chat about it then and see what's see what's so um i'll be ready you know i'll have a celebration tonight i'll chill with my kids tomorrow i'll show junior the fight on the telly see how he reacts to see what he thinks of it and then back to training you know when you take before the fight you taper off for the final two weeks so if you get a quick win and then you kind of go off then all of a sudden it can be four weeks without a full training you know what i mean without a real training session and then you're you've slipped behind again so I'm going to make sure not to do that and get a good session in the day after tomorrow and carry on. June 27, 2020, UFC Vegas 4, Poirier v. Hooker, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dustin Porrier returns to the cage against surging Kiwi Dan Hooker in the main event at the UFC Apex in front of essential personnel only. I honestly think with a win over Dan Hooker, I'll be one fight away from another title. shot. When I get into the octagon and stand across on that man, I expect adversity to present itself. And it does. And I just know I can suffer and push through more than most of these guys. And I believe in my technique. And, you know, that's fighting. It's not, I don't try to align myself up with these kind of crazy matchups and stuff. That's just fighting. Teddy Atlas said that a fight isn't a fight until there's something to overcome. So, you know, I've definitely been in some fights. In what MMA fighting named the third best fight of 2020,

Poirier defeats Hooker by unanimous decision. January 23, 2021, UFC 257, Porriere v. McGregor 2, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates. After originally meeting at Featherweight, the former interim UFC lightweight champion, Dustin the Diamond Porriere, will rematch the four former featherweight and lightweight UFC champion, the notorious Connor McGregor,

in a non-title main event for UFC 257 at Eddie Hodd Arena in Abu Dhabi. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.