DIAMOND DUSTED
CONOR McGREGOR was on the end of a devastating defeat on his UFC lightweight return in Abu Dhabi last night.
The Notorious, 32, was stunned by American Dustin Poirier in the second round of their main event clash on Fight Island.
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And it left the Irish star's hopes of a rematch with rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in tatters.
The UFC’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion was given a rude welcome back to the division after a year out of the octagon.
McGregor was fast out of the blocks and was clearly hell-bent on having a short night at the office, landing two big left hands flush on the chin of his old featherweight rival.
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Poirier took them well, though, and responded with two leg kicks before dipping levels and landing a beautiful double-leg takedown.
McGregor managed to work his way back up to his feet and then forced Poirier up against the fence, where he landed two big shoulder strikes in the clinch.
Eventually, they separated and McGregor went to work, landing another straight left before stunning Poirier with a shovel right hook.
Poirier soon reversed the unfavourable clinch position and began to work the former double champ with a prolonged single-leg takedown attempt.
McGregor, to his credit, defended well and reversed the position again, which paved the way for another shoulder strike to land flush on the chin of The Diamond.
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Poirier, 32, immediately went on the defensive after they separated, a decision which invited more pressure from The Notorious.
McGregor, whose last fight was a 40-second TKO against Donald Cerrone a year ago, closed the first round strong.
And he came dangerously close to landing a spinning heel kick moments before the buzzer.
Mystic Mac - who predicted a 60-second stoppage of Poirier - immediately began stalking his man after the restart and looked to land that trademark left hand.
Fan favourite Poirier, however, continued to hinder the Irishman's movement with leg and calf kicks, which seemed to be taking a toll.
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McGregor soon wised up to the tactic and began catching the kicks and looked to land counters.
But the Dubliner's movement was well and truly compromised, which eventually led to Poirier cornering him against the fence.
The pride of Louisiana sensed redemption was within touching distance and unleashed a hellacious flurry, stunning the former featherweight and lightweight champion with a big left hand.
Former interim lightweight champion Poirier didn't let up and landed a big right hook that sat McGregor down and closed the show with two academic shots.
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A dejected McGregor said: "It's hard to overcome inactivity over long periods of time. And that's just it.
"The leg kicks were good. That low calf good was very good. The leg was dead and I just wasn't as comfortable as I needed to be.
"It's inactivity and that's it. But Dustin is some fighter. If you put in the time in here, you're going to get cosy in here and that's it.
"I have to dust it off and come back and that;s it. And that's what I'll do."
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When asked if he'll compete again this year, McGregor told Jon Anik: "Of course, I need activity, guys, come on. You don't get away with being inactive and that's the way it is.
"I'll take my licks. I'm gutted, John, to be honest. I'm gutted. I put so much work in.
"Well done, Dustin. We're one and one. Good man. It's a tough one to swallow.
"I put in a lot of work, I'm proud of my work. I would've liked to have represented my team a little bit better. But we'll get to go again and that's it.
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"I'm going to go home to my kids, they're in the hotel, and just chill for a bit and regroup and that's it."
UFC chief Dana White is insure of McGregor's future at this moment in time, saying: "I'm sure in a few hours he'll be blowing my me up telling me a million things he wants to do.
"We'll see, we'll see what he wants to do from here."
But the veteran promoter is open to booking McGregor in a trilogy fight with bitter rival Nate Diaz.
He said: "There's always a trilogy when you're 1-1."
McGregor was instantly trolled by some familiar names after he was battered by Poirier.
Quick to comment was McGregor's bitter rival Paulie Malignaggi.
uploaded a photo onto Twitter of the 32-year-old on his back.
He wrote: "Good night everyone."
And fellow UFC star and good friend of McGregor's old foe Khabib Nurmagomedov Khamzat Chimaev also poked fun at McGregor.
The welterweight shared the same photo on the social media accompanied by a host of laughing-face emojis.
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And as you might expect, McGregor's old foe and the man who chokeed him out when they fought, Khabib, also commented on the shock result.
The 32-year-old Russian tweeted: "This is what happened, when you change your team, leave the sparring partners who made you a champion and sparring with little kids, far away from reality."
Conor McGregor reacts to shock UFC 257 loss against Dustin Poirier
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