McGregor MUST change style if he takes Poirier fight, says team-mate

Conor McGregor warned that he MUST change his style if he takes trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier next as team-mate says boxing stance limited the sharpness of the Notorious’ shots in UFC 257 defeat

  • Conor McGregor has been told to change his style in a Dustin Poirier trilogy bout 
  • The Notorious suffered a shock defeat to the Diamond at UFC 257 last month 
  • McGregor adopted a boxing stance as a precursor to a Manny Pacquiao fight
  • And Poirier punished his rival with a series of devastating leg kicks in the bout
  • McGregor’s team-mate has said the Irishman must change his style next  

Conor McGregor’s team-mate has urged the former two-weight world champion to take an immediate rematch with Dustin Poirier, but warned that he must change his style if he is to succeed against the Diamond. 

McGregor’s return to the UFC ended in a shock defeat as Poirier, 32, sensationally knocked out his Irish rival in the second round to cement his position as one of the top lightweights in the sport.

The Louisiana native is expected to fight for the title next, with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement opening the door for a legion of 155-pounders to challenge for the belt.

Conor McGregor has been told to change his style if he is to win a rematch with Dustin Poirier

The Notorious suffered a shock defeat on his return to the UFC at Fight Island last month

However, the Notorious is hopeful that he can fight Poirier for a third time, having knocked him out in 2014 before last month’s bout. 

And team-mate Frans Mlambo would like to see the Irishman take on Poirier next, insisting that the financial rewards from a third fight could tempt the Diamond to abandon title plans for now. 

‘I kind of want the rematch as soon as possible,’ Mlambo told The Sun. ‘But, it doesn’t seem likely straight away, given that Poirier is performing so good, he has the title to go after and he might see that as his priority.

Poirier, 32, punished the Irishman with a serious of devastating leg kicks throughout the fight

McGregor’s boxing stance offered a route to the legs which debilitated his movement 

‘On the other hand, financially it would be a good move for all involved.

‘The reason I’m saying is just how the two fights went, the first time he rolled over Poirier and then the second time it was the other way round. Now they’re at a stalemate and I conclude a rematch is fitting in that situation.’

However, Mlambo warned that McGregor must adopt a change of style if he is to emerge victorious over Poirier.

McGregor utilised a boxing stance in the UFC 254 clash as a precursor to a Manny Pacquiao mega-money fight, but was punished with several brutal leg kicks that destabilised the Irishman’s sharpness as the contest developed.

Training partner Frans Mlambo (L) says McGregor must change his stance if he is to succeed

‘With this fight he had more of a boxing stance, he was moving different and I feel like his shots he throws out there weren’t as crisp,’ he added.

‘Whatever was done in this new camp, going back to a boxing style, it just didn’t go as well as planned.’  

McGregor this week admitted that he deserved his legs to be ‘kicked off’ due to his boxing stance as he insisted he has the hunger to pursue a trilogy fight. 

‘A little single disciplined in my approach and stance with mostly boxing,’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘It’s what I get for picking this bout and opponent as a precursor to a boxing match against Pacman. 

McGregor is hoping for an immediate rematch with the lightweight title hopeful this year

‘I deserved to get the legs kicked off me going in with this thinking. This is not the game to play around with.

‘Then a tremendous finishing flurry by my opponent. Hats off! A well fought fight by The Diamond. 1 a piece now with a Trilogy bout for all the marbles! Wow! Exciting!

‘Not a trilogy I was expecting, nor the tactical affair I was anticipating, but I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t meant to be. This is exactly how this was always meant to be! Buzzing!!’




Share this article

Source: Read Full Article