Conor McGregor wants vacant UFC title at stake in Dustin Poirier trilogy, coach says
Conor McGregor wants to run things back immediately with Dustin Poirier, according to SBG Ireland head coach John Kavanagh.
The former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion hopes to set up a trilogy fight with Poirier before the summer of 2021. McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC), who had beaten Poirier back in 2014, lost by second-round TKO in the rematch this past Saturday at UFC 257.
McGregor was stopped after wining the first round on all three judges’ scorecards. McGregor looked good early, connecting with some solid shots, but Poirier was able to manage, slow down McGregor with leg kicks, and then finish the Irish star in the second with a flurry of punches.
Now, just days removed from the rematch, McGregor is already thinking about the trilogy and settling the score.
“He’s already harassing everybody to get the rematch, so we would love to rematch,” Kavanagh told UFC broadcast partner ESPN. “I don’t think Dustin is against that. If we can get the rematch before summer, that would be amazing.
“If it’s not to be, then I guess I don’t really know. Maybe he (McGregor) drifts off into the boxing. So if the MMA community could help me out here, get behind me, and pester the UFC to give him another fight sooner rather than later – so I don’t lose him to boxing for six months – I would appreciate it.”
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McGregor doesn’t just want the trilogy, according to Kavanagh. He wants the third Poirier fight to happen with the vacant lightweight title on the line.
Currently, Khabib Nurmagomedov holds the belt at 155 pounds, but he retired back in October. UFC president DanaWhite has been persistent in persuading Nurmagomedov to walk back his retirement but admitted after UFC 257 that it was unlikely.
Kavanagh says the title shot would be big motivation for McGregor, adding that he believes it’s the right way to settle the score with Poirier.
“That’s the big drive,” Kavanagh explained. “It’s 1-1, they’re right up there in the rankings, they’re very popular fighters.
“I think the two of them are a beautiful matchup. Stylistically, it’s beautiful to watch. I’d love to see lots and lots of rounds between the two of them. Dustin is obviously riding high with confidence now with more experience and more weight. He took some of those shots. I’m sure his confidence is super high at the moment. We have to fix that technique with the leg and a couple of other things, as well, but Dustin vs. Conor 3 for the belt in maybe May, that would be amazing.”
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