Conor vs Dustin Poirier 2
Helwani: First, let me preface this by stating I have no insider knowledge on this one. I mean, Khabib just vacated the title, and I don't think the UFC brass thought that would happen.
Helwani: First, let me preface this by stating I have no insider knowledge on this one. I mean, Khabib just vacated the title, and I don't think the UFC brass thought that would happen. I definitely know they didn't talk to either McGregor's or Poirier's camp about fighting for a vacant title on Jan. 23. That said, this makes way too much sense. I can't imagine any scenario where they don't do this. If in fact Nurmagomedov is done, and I believe he is (for now, at least), McGregor vs. Poirier 2 is the perfect vacant title fight.
Though he announced his intent to retire following his last fight, Khabib Nurmagomedov remains the current UFC lightweight champion. He foresees the winner of the UFC 257 Conor vs Dustin Poirier 2 headliner between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier fighting for his belt
McGregor's only loss at 155 is to Nurmagomedov, and Poirier is coming off a win and has already defeated Gaethje. At around the same time, they should also book Ferguson vs. Chandler, and by the time the dust has settled with those two fights, Gaethje will be ready to come back, and he should still be in the mix, too. I'm sure the brass isn't happy Nurmagomedov is leaving -- after all, it feels like he was just coming into his own as a star -- but the good news is the promotion has plenty of great options at its disposal, including the biggest draw in the game.
There was a time when Conor McGregor was considered one of the best fighters on the planet, with a future that could make him the GOAT.
But a lucrative sidetrack to box Floyd Mayweather Jr. derailed those plans on Aug. 26, 2017. Was it a temporary derailment? The answer might be revealed in 2021.
Meanwhile, Dustin Poirier has been busy and successful, beating some of the best in the world.
One of these two was ranked among the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
Which one?
Last updated