UFC 264 didn’t end the way that anyone thought it would. The main event was headlined by the third installment of Dustin Poirier (28-6, 1 NC) and Conor McGregor (22-6). Unlike the second fight which saw both men respect the other, the third fight was personal.
McGregor got off to a hot start again at UFC 264. Utilizing a steady diet of leg kicks, McGregor was controlling the striking early on in the fight. Poirier started slow again, but started to get comfortable after McGregor’s hot start.
Both men traded big shots before they clinched. McGregor synched in a guillotine choke that appeared tight for a moment, but Poirier fought through it. The Diamond then got the top position and spent most of the second half of the round reigning down shots on McGregor.
Near the end of the first, McGregor got back to his feet. Both threw big shots that missed and when McGregor stepped back, his ankle snapped. The round ended and UFC 264‘s main event ended with a doctor stoppage due to McGregor’s ankle injury.
The UFC’s Plans
It was clear that there was still no love lost between Poirier and McGregor after UFC 264. Poirier was mocking McGregor while McGregor used his post-fight interview to callout Poirier’s wife Jolie.
Dana White took the podium at the post-fight press conference and made it clear that these two will fight again. White said, “Dustin Poirier will fight for the title and when Conor is healed and ready to go, you do the rematch.”
White continued, “The fight didn’t get finished. You can’t have a fight finished that way so we will see how this whole thing plays out. Who knows how long Conor will be out. Poirier will do his thing until Conor is ready.”
Obviously, Poirier will be fighting UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira (31-8, 1 NC) next. Given how this fight ended, I would guess that the UFC aims to make that fight happen at the end of the year.
If Poirier wins that fight, the UFC will then move towards the fourth McGregor fight which would be massive especially if the lightweight title is on the line. Time will tell and a lot will depend on how McGregor heals.