McGregor puts shock defeat to Poirier down to inactivity

Conor McGregor blamed extended spells away from the UFC for his shock defeat to Dustin Poirier but the Irishman said “don’t write me off yet” as he vowed to carry on in mixed martial arts.

McGregor beat Poiri erin side two minutes in September 2014 and just over two years laterhe became the first fighter to simultaneously hold two UFC titles after adding lightweight gold to his featherweight crown. Fame and fortune came amid a crossover boxing bout against pound-for-pound superstarFloyd May weather but, having reversed his retirement decision, his return bout with Poirier at UFC 257 at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi was just his third since November 2016.

He has had just 40 seconds in the octagon – a blow out of Donald C err one 12 months ago – since losing to bitter adversary Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018 and his hopes of luring the Russian into a rematch are in tatters.

His rhythm was disrupted by several kicks to his lead leg and he was then floored by a short right hand before Poiri er landed another couple of heavy blows to force a dramatic stoppage midway through the second round.

“It’s heart-breaking and hard to take,” said 32-year-old McGregor, who turned up to the post-fight press conference on crutches. “My leg is completely dead. It’s like an American football in my suit at the minute.

“If you put in the time in here, you’re going to get cosy in here and I just have to dust it off and come back and that’ s what I will do. I need activity, you don’ t get away with being inactive in this business.

“As long as you stay active and as long as you compete, things shape around you. You show up, you reap the rewards. That’s what happened for Dustin and it’s what’s happened against me.

“I’ll keep my eyes on the prize. Don’t write me off yet, I’ll make my adjustments and keep moving. I’ll go back, get healthy and I’ll re-prepare.”

McGregor had warned Nurmagomedov “the world knows this war is not over”, despite the Russian bowing out of the sport last October after extending his perfect professional record to 29-0 with a win over Justin Gaethje.

UFC president Dana White had indicated the lightweight champion could be tempted to make a comeback if he saw “something spectacular” between the two headliners in front of 2,000 socially-distanced fans at the Etihad Arena.