Conor McGregor Predicts Knockout Win Over Dustin Poirier In UFC 264 Fight

Nearly seven years ago, Conor McGregor knocked out Dustin Poirier in his first appearance on a UFC pay-per-view. The Irish fighter expects the same result when the two lightweights meet in the main event of UFC 264 Saturday night in Las Vegas.

“I’m going to knock him out,” McGregor told Rolling Stone when asked for a prediction regarding Saturday’s fight. “Without question. I’m the most dangerous I’ve ever been, I’m the most focused I’ve ever been. And I’m going to take him out. He won’t have any way to deal with what I’m bringing on Saturday, and that’s it.”

A lot has changed since McGregor needed less than two minutes to beat Poirier at UFC 178. McGregor is now the biggest MMA star in history, breaking PPV records while becoming the first UFC star to hold championships in multiple divisions at the same time. McGregor has been defeated twice since he was a double champion in 2016, including a loss to Poirier in their rematch.

Poirier returned the favor at UFC 257, stunning McGregor with a second-round TKO victory on Jan. 24. The winner of their trilogy fight could earn a shot at the 155-pound championship.

“I’ve been in big fights before, and it’s always electric, and this one will probably be the biggest so far,” McGregor said “Having fans there this time is going to add even more to the atmosphere. So, I’m truly so excited, and I’m going to put on a show.”

In his last fight before losing to Poirier, McGregor needed just 40 seconds to knock out Donald Cerrone. McGregor has never lost two fights in a row. Saturday marks the first time since 2016 that McGregor will step inside the octagon twice in the same year.

With a 22-5 career MMA record, McGregor has won 19 times by knockout. Only 13 of Poirier’s 27 career wins have come by knockout.

Poirier has one loss in his last nine fights.