Dustin Poirier has admitted he would consider stepping back into the octagon for a fourth showdown with Conor McGregor. The two fighters first clashed at UFC 178 in 2014, with McGregor securing a knockout victory in just over a minute. Since then, both have achieved remarkable success in the sport. McGregor went on to become the first simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history, while Poirier claimed an interim lightweight title and became the first fighter to knock out McGregor when they met again in 2021.
A Storied Rivalry
The rivalry between McGregor and Poirier has been one of the most compelling in MMA history. After their initial meeting, McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo to win the featherweight title and later stopped Eddie Alvarez to capture the lightweight belt. Poirier, meanwhile, moved up to lightweight and enjoyed a stellar run, including an interim title win over Max Holloway. Seven years after their first fight, the two met again, and Poirier made history by becoming the first to knock out McGregor. Their third encounter saw Poirier win again after McGregor suffered a leg injury.
McGregor's Return and Poirier's Retirement
McGregor has not fought since that trilogy bout but is expected to return at UFC 329 on July 11, where he will face Max Holloway in a welterweight contest. Poirier, on the other hand, retired from MMA last year following a loss to Holloway. Despite hanging up his gloves, Poirier has left the door open for a potential fourth fight with McGregor. Speaking on the Weighing In podcast, he said: "If it was realistic and they called me and said, 'Hey,' I would probably get back in the drug-testing protocol and get licensed again, yeah."
Poirier's Assessment of McGregor's Chances
While many doubt McGregor's ability to compete at the highest level after a long layoff and a serious leg injury, Poirier believes the Irishman still possesses the power to be a threat. "I don't think Conor's going to look as bad as Nate [Diaz at MVP MMA], that was really bad," Poirier said. "I think the punching power's going to be there regardless. Conor's going to come back from the injury and still have that natural punching power. The question for me is the timing, the athleticism, the movement. If his counter-punching and his timing is anywhere near what it was, he has a chance to beat Max."
Poirier also noted that Holloway has been knocked down in each of his last three fights, suggesting that time may be catching up with him. "I love Max, but the career he's had and the longevity he's had, he's touched the canvas in his last three fights. That's more than he's touched it in his entire career. I just think time's catching up with him. He's still a young man, but he's taken a lot of shots, and Conor can punch. No matter how long he's been out, he still has the great equalizer and that's power. Some guys are born with it."
As fight fans eagerly await McGregor's return, Poirier's willingness to entertain a fourth fight adds another layer of intrigue to the already captivating narrative surrounding the Irish superstar's comeback.
