Al Iaquinta was wrong after all.
In October, before the re-election of Dustin Poirier-Conor McGregor was officially concluded, Iaquinta told me he thought Poirier had already lost the battle.
“What is that man doing?” Iaquinta said. “What is he, Conor’s fan? It’s so creepy. Conor is like, ‘I’ll fly you over and donate my money to your charity.’ I would like, ‘Brother, I’m going to fly my f — ing myself and if I knock the f — out of you, I’re donating my own money. What is it? Kumbaya? He has already lost the battle.
“I have no doubt that Dustin lost that battle. He is already [conceded] in everything. He’s like, ‘Thank you for the fight. We will fight in Ireland or wherever, and thank you, we will fight for charity, it will be great. ‘It’s like old, go out here. This is a fight. What? Are you kidding me? Are you going to thank the man? You think Conor is really going – it’s for him, it’s not for you, Dustin. Relax, bro. ‘
When he said that, some said it was loud.
I will admit that I also thought Poirier fell for McGregor’s thoughts. I thought McGregor disarmed him and lured him into a false sense of security.
In the end, though, Poirier was just where he needed to be. Both mentally and physically.
Poirier made a living from the motto “25 minutes to get the world right again.” Saturday night, after a career filled with ups and downs, he needed less than 10. Poirier told me in June that the McGregor loss in 2014 changed his career for the better. It was impossible to know for sure until they fought again. Now we know. He is one of the best fighters on the planet.
Where is he going from here? A fight against Michael Chandler for the interim title would make a lot of sense, right? If not, what about Charles Oliveira? Either way, the man deserves a big fight next time. This is obvious. If Khabib Nurmagomedov is really finished, Poirier should absolutely fight for the undisputed title next.
What is not so obvious is what it all means to McGregor. The loss is huge. There is no doubt about it. He had big plans for 2021, in and out of the Octagon. Does this result spoil these plans? To some extent, yes.
It dimmed McGregor’s star for a moment. Yes. Absolutely.
But he said that after that inactivity hurt him and he wants to fix it this year. This is good news for the UFC. He’s still a big draw. Losses do not mean as much in MMA as in boxing. If I talk about it, I’ll just kill it all – at least for now – his Manny Pacquiao dreams. This is not a big deal. He needs to concentrate on MMA.
But McGregor has been here before. He was presumably finished after the Nathan Diaz loss in 2016.
Of course, we all know, he bounced and even became popular at the time. Five years later he will have to do it again.
Hmm. Diaz, right? That seems like the perfect time for the trilogy, right?
– Ariel Helwani
Welcome to the UFC, Michael Chandler
If Khabib Nurmagomedov had to see something impressive to consider a return, Michael Chandler more than anticipated it. In the former Bellator champion’s first Octagon trip, Chandler flattened the famous durable Dan Hooker with a two-punch combination, and then rounded off a fallen Hooker with incessant beats for a first-round TKO. In 150 seconds, and with one setback from the cage, the lightweight division found another contender for the title.
Nine years after winning his first major world title and since being projected on the UFC rankings by fans and media, Chandler has shown remarkable patience in this long-awaited debut. He chased down the ever-surrounding Hooker and handled an onslaught of calf kicks well before noticing a “2-3” combination – a right, right, left hook – that spelled the beginning of the end for Hooker.
Absent clarity about Nurmagomedov’s status at the top of the division and – with that – any sure consequence of the lightweight fight at UFC 257, Chandler’s most important skill was the ability to cut a versatile promo. With a page from Ric Flair’s book, Chandler called Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Nurmagomedov. It provides the UFC material for a discussion, opposite the strange man from the Nurmagomedov draws, or in a title fight for an evacuated belt.
Chandler’s debut could not have been conceivably better for him or the promotion.
– Phil Murphy
Jojo Calderwood should get a title
If you want to argue with me on this, that’s fine, but hear me out. Calderwood, who defeated Jessica Eye by unanimous decision after a loss in her last performance, is not exactly screaming for title, but there is more to the story than that.
Calderwood would fight Valentina Shevchenko last year, but missed the chance when Shevchenko was injured and had to push back the date of their fight. Instead of waiting for the shot, Calderwood waged a dangerous battle against artist Jennifer Maia and lost in the first round.
Shortly after the fight, Calderwood fainted in the back and needed medical attention for a low heart rate, and later revealed that she had been ill the week of the fight. It’s not to take anything away from Maia, but Calderwood dared a guaranteed title shot to fight a battle, sick and lost – and then returned to UFC 257 and recorded a dominant performance against a former title challenger.
If she wants to wait for a shot this time, I will not regret her. Shevchenko has to fight Jessica Andrade first, and if Calderwood comes after that, I have no problem with that.
– Brett Okamoto
Peña does not get next title but is not far
Some may have rolled their eyes when they heard Julianna Pena in her post-fight interview say that the UFC woman’s champion weightlifter, Amanda Nunes, was diving her. But Peña’s tactics were ultimately successful, as it provoked Nunes’ anger to respond to her via Twitter. Peña’s win over Sara McMann was very impressive, but it may have gotten lost in the turmoil without a bit of a rift with the champion. Those interviews after fights are a forum of fighters to arouse interest in his or her next fight. That way, Peña was successful.
The lioness has already responded to Julianna Pena’s call # UFC257 👀
(via @Amanda_Leoa) pic.twitter.com/HMA51cvc4I
– ESPN MMA (@espnmma) 24 January 2021
No, Peña will not get the next title. She lost in her last fight to Germaine de Randamie, and even though de Randamie has already lost to Nunes, the division is thin. Aspen Ladd and Pannie Kianzad also have some momentum. But this is not a big obstacle for Peña. She’s much closer to a title shot than many people think. Nunes is also the UFC featherweight champion for women and will defend it against Megan Anderson in March. There’s a chance that by the time Nunes returns to a bantam weight, Peña will have a good series to get the right to face her. If so, it would have all started with this interview after some fights that some people put down.
– Marc Raimondi