NewsBite

Conor McGregor leaves on stretcher after gruesome broken leg in Dustin Poirier fight at UFC 264

Conor McGregor promised someone would leave on a stretcher at UFC 264. Unfortunately it was him.

Jai BednallJai Bednall
@jaibednall
2 min read
July 11, 2021 - 4:36PM
UFC 264: Conor McGregor breaks leg in loss to Dustin Poirier

Conor McGregor's foot was gruesomely dangling from his leg and now his career is hanging by a thread after a shattering defeat against Dustin Poirier.

In their trilogy bout at UFC 264 in Las Vegas on Sunday, Poirier destroyed McGregor for the second time this year and the Irishman has now lost three of his past four fights - and four of his past seven.

This defeat came with a badly broken leg that will require surgery tomorrow.

The biggest name in the sport began the fight in aggressive fashion, targeting Poirier with the type of leg kicks the American used to win their last bout.

But Poirier believed he heard McGregor's leg crack on one of the kicks and after taking him to the ground and dominating him for most of the round, an ugly moment occurred.

The fighters were returned to their feet with less than a minute on the clock and after they both swung and miss, McGregor stepped back and his leg broke and collapsed under him.

He survived until the end of the round but his leg was horrifically damaged and the fight was stopped.

Conor McGregor holds his broken leg. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Conor McGregor holds his broken leg. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

“Oh my goodness," UFC commentator Joe Rogan said. "He fell back on his own ankle and broke it that is crazy. That is actually the shin I’m guessing from where it is bending it looks above the ankle.

“I’m rendered speechless. The only thing we guaranteed you was something crazy would happen and not at all the way anyone threw it up.”

Ever defiant, McGregor screamed at officials to ensure the result was ruled a doctor's stoppage and then produced an ugly outburst when he was interviewed by Rogan while sitting against the cage post-fight.

"I was boxing the ears off him and kicking the legs off him. This is not over," McGregor said.

He continued by again taunting Poirier about his wife, before leaving the cage on a stretcher.

Conor McGregor is carried out of the arena on a stretcher. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor is carried out of the arena on a stretcher. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Poirier said it was obvious that he was in control of the fight despite the early damage he took to his legs.

He said one of McGregor's punches clipped him to the head but he wasn't wobbled and described the takedown as easy.

McGregor attempted to lock in a guillotine choke but never looked like he had a great squeeze.

Poirier accused McGregor of pushing his fingers inside his gloves while they were grappling and said he was trying to alert referee Herb Dean to the cheating.

"This guy's a dirtbag, man," Poirier said.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, the former champion who also accused McGregor of cheating during their fight, tweeted: “Good always defeats evil. Very happy for Dustin Poirier. I hope you will get the belt end of the year.”

Poirier will now fight for the title held by Charles Oliveira, while UFC president Dana White said McGregor would get a fourth crack at Poirier when he had healed.

"The fight didn't get finished. You can't have a fight finish that way," White said.

Updates

McGregor's gruesome leg snap

WARNING: Graphic

Aussie worried about comparisons to Shirvo’s you-know-what

Conor McGregor started the contest with a couple of side kicks, while Poirier patiently waited for the prime time to strike.

The Irishman persisted with heavy kicks to the body and legs before Poirier delivered a couple of well-directed jabs at the jaw.

The pair found themselves in a tangle against the fencing before the American forced McGregor onto the canvas.

The Notorious was suddenly in a world of trouble as Poirier came down hard with a series of huge blows.

"This is crazy" cried UFC commentator Joe Rogan.

Poirier continued to viciously attack McGregor on the deck, who somehow managed to get back to his feet.

But incredibly, with just six seconds remaining on the clock, McGregor wobbled and fell back onto the floor.

It was soon revealed McGregor had snapped his ankle on a misstep and suffered a suspected broken leg, and the fight was over.

Poirier was proclaimed the victor based on a doctor's stoppage.

The American suggested after the fight that McGregor had fractured his leg while attempting a kick early in the opening round.

Regardless of how the fight ended, Poirier was undeniably the dominant fighter in the first round.

Brazilian fighter Gilbert Burns has secured a unanimous decision victory over Stephen Thompson in their UFC 264 co-main event.

The opening round was highlighted with the pair grappling on the deck and against the fencing, with Burns managing a handful of blows to the head.

The first term ended with a frantic flurry of swings from both fighters, few of which made contact.

Most of the second round was uneventful, with Thompson on the defence with the exception of a couple of well-directed kicks.

But with less than 30 seconds on the clock, Burns tackled his opponent to the deck, and the pair exchanged repeated blows to the head until the buzzer sounded in Las Vegas.

In the third round, a spinning kick from Thompson sent the crowd into a frenzy, but a comeback jab from Burns briefly dazed his rival.

With two minutes remaining in the welterweight bout, the exhausted fighters flopped onto the canvas for some more lacklustre grappling.

Burns got himself into the dominant position and fired off a few explosive hammer fists before the buzzer.

The judges unanimously scored the contest 29-28, with a chorus of boos echoing around the venue when the verdict was handed down.

Burns apologised to the spectators: "Sorry guys, every time I step in here I tried to get a finish.

"Lets go, boo. I don't care, I need more."

Australia's Tai Tuivasa only ended 67 seconds to topple former NFL star Greg Hardy with a first-round TKO at UFC 264.

Tuivasa walked out to the Octagon with the hit Spice Girls song "Wannabe" blaring from the speakers in Las Vegas.

Hardy fired a brutal blow early in the first round, which briefly left the Aussie dazed.

But when the American went in for the finish, Tuivasa struck his opponent in the face with a wild swing, sending Hardy to the canvas.

"He's such an animal," UFC commentator Joe Rogan said.

Tuivasa celebrated the victory with a trademark shoey.

"He wanted to bang with me. I'm not the right guy to bang with," Tuivasa said after the win.

"Pick another bloke."

Kiwis take gold in men's eight

Fans are already calling the prelim fight between Niko Price and Michel Pereira the Fight of the Night at UFC 264, and understandably so.

Pereira clinched a thrilling unanimous decision victory over his American opponent on Sunday, judges scoring the contest 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.

The bout was highlighted by Pereira's crazy backflip in the second round, landing on Price and kicking his opponent in the head.

Both fighters threw wild swings in a chaotic final 15 seconds in the Octagon, and the Las Vegas crowd went berserk.

After Pereira was announced the victor, the 27-year-old gave his opponent a piggy back around the Octagon in the ultimate sign of respect.

Pereira then seemingly called out Nate Diaz, proclaiming: "Hey Nate, I'm here. Let's fight."

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/ufc/ufc-264-live-dday-arrives-for-conor-mcgregor-vs-dustin-poirier/live-coverage/a9fae2e9d4669d9629d9a6e72c86d201