Conor McGregor will never escape the lips of many MMA fighters during callouts because they all want the big-money fight. But McGregor can’t seem to move past Dustin Poirier. It has been nearly two-and-half years since the Irishman stepped in the UFC cage.

McGregor’s last fight ended in the least-satisfying way, according to MMA breaking news. The fight was stopped at the end of the first round by the doctor. McGregor had broken his tibia during UFC 264 in July 2021. Since then, McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC.

It is unclear what his next step will be, but McGregor has been trash-talking Poirier and others to set up another big fight. With McGregor’s box-office drawing power, it’s hard to imagine the UFC won’t be willing to accommodate whoever McGregor wants to fight.

Poirier Would Like to Leave No Doubts

Part of Poirier’s interest in one more McGregor bout is the desire to shut the Irishman up. McGregor has claimed Poirier’s win in the third fight between the pair was a fluke due to McGregor’s injury. The latest MMA updates don’t support McGregor’s version of the story.

During the first round of the fight at UFC 264, Poirier held a 36-27 edge in significant strikes. Poirier also scored a takedown and was able to keep McGregor off balance. Poirier, 34, is in a weird spot in his career.

Poirier lost his last title shot, a submission loss to Oliveira back in 2021, and was knocked out by Justin Gaethje last July via a head kick. It is unlikely, unless there is an injury, that Poirier would get another shot at the championship. Taking on McGregor would be nice for revenge but would likely be Poirier’s last opportunity at a fight with a big purse.

Don’t Want to Be Like Mike

While McGregor hasn’t fought in the octagon recently, MMA news sites show he has been far from removed from the sport. McGregor was named as one of the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter and went against Michael Chandler. Chandler, a former champion in Bellator, has an exciting fighting style that would likely make a matchup with McGregor appealing.

However, McGregor, a former two-division UFC champion, has said varying things about a potential bout with Chandler. The disappointing thing is the unknown factor is keeping Chandler on the sidelines. He hasn’t fought since November 2022, a submission loss to Poirier, because of wanting a big-money fight against McGregor.

Since coming over to the UFC, Chandler has only fought top fighters. He lost in the second round via TKO against Charles Oliveira for the lightweight championship in May 2021. Chandler also fought Dan Hooker, Justin Gaethje, and Tony Ferguson. While Chandler is only 2-3 during his time with the promotion, he is 23-8 on his career with 18 finishes.

McGregor’s Rivalry with Poirier Goes Way Back

When McGregor was in his early dominant days, he fought Poirier at UFC 178 in September 2014. During the first fight, Poirier had a hard time handling McGregor’s power. Porier’s plan appeared to be to slow McGregor down with leg kicks.

But landing seven out of eight leg-kick attempts didn’t take much wind out of the Irishman’s sales. McGregor started the finishing sequence with a stiff shot that connected behind Poirier’s ear shortly into the first round. McGregor followed up with a ground and pound that forced a stoppage at the 1:46 mark of the first round.

That was part of a 15-fight winning streak for McGregor, who would win the featherweight title at UFC 194 in December 2015 by knocking out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds.

McGregor Wins Second Title, Goes to Boxing, Serves Suspension

McGregor would end up winning the lightweight championship in 2016 by knocking out Eddie Alvarez to become the first UFC fighter to hold multiple championships at once. After that win, McGregor’s MMA career went off the rails. According to MMA news sites, McGregor would not fight again in the octagon for nearly two years.

Instead, McGregor took a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. When McGregor returned to the UFC, he was submitted by Khabib Numagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018. Following the fight, there was a melee in the cage that earned McGregor a suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Committee.

McGregor would have another nearly two-year absence.

Poirier Wins Interim Gold

While McGregor pursued other interests, Poirier continued to labor in the octagon. Poirier managed to string together a five-fight unbeaten streak and capped the run with a knockout of Eddie Alvarez in the second round in July 2018. That earned him an opportunity to fight for the interim lightweight championship while Nurmagomedov was on suspension.

In a brutal five-round war with Max Holloway, Poirier showcased his championship credentials. Holloway, the then-featherweight champion, forced Poirier into a high-paced, action-packed striking battle at UFC 236. Poirier would outlast Holloway to win his only title to date in the UFC.

Poirier lost the subsequent fight to Nurmagomedov in a unification bout at UFC 242.

Build-up to Second and Third Fights Was Nasty

Poirier would win another fight against Hooker before being paired with McGregor again for UFC 257 in January 2021. The build-up between the pair was especially testy. McGregor made repeated attacks against Poirier’s wife, Jolie.

McGregor said Jolie had sent him direct messages on Instagram. Poirier didn’t appreciate the implication that his wife, with whom he has a daughter, was sending McGregor messages. Poirier would knock out a different-looking McGregor, who fought more out of a boxing stance than the karate one he had employed earlier in his career, in the second round.

Will the Fight Happen?

Even the best MMA news site has had a hard time guessing who McGregor’s next opponent will be. There should be healthy skepticism that he will fight again. But if the Irishman still has the bug, UFC CEO Dana White will give him the stage.

Poirier wouldn’t mind meeting McGregor there. Time will tell if this rivalry will have a fourth chapter.

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