Dustin Poirier placed on a gutsy efficiency at UFC 302, taking light-weight champion and P4P No.1 Islam Makhachev all the best way to the fifth spherical earlier than lastly being submitted (watch the highlights right here). And in response to Poirier’s teammate, he did it with injured ribs.
“The best way he carried out on Saturday night time, that was tremendous spectacular to me,” Edwards advised MMA Right now’s RJ Clifford. “And no one is aware of this, and he’s most likely gonna be like, ‘Man, why’d you set that on the market?’ I do know [Makhachev] was additionally not 100%. No person goes right into a battle a 100%. However [Poirier] harm his ribs like two weeks earlier than the battle and hadn’t wrestled or grappled for like two and a half weeks.”
Poirier had famous earlier than the battle with Makhachev was even a chance that he had ‘f—ed up ribs’ from the Benoit Saint-Denis battle, and it appears like that lingering harm was a full-blown downside close to the top of his UFC 302 coaching camp.
“It’s spectacular towards [Makhachev],” Edwards continued. “Towards any individual else, it wouldn’t matter. However towards [Makhachev], it’s like, ‘Man! You wrestled like that towards that man with harm ribs? Okay, I’m impressed.’”
Clifford famous that Poirier’s takedown protection was fairly on level within the face of Makhachev’s relentless wrestling assaults. Islam went simply 5 for 16 by the battle. To try this effectively towards a high Dagestani fighter typically is spectacular. So to do it with injured ribs?
For Dustin Poirier, it’s simply one other day within the workplace.
“I imply, for years he had a hip surgical procedure he needed to have,” Edwards recounted. “However he fought for years with — I neglect what the situation was, however he didn’t have the pliability in his hips that he has now after the surgical procedure. He’s like, ‘However, all people does that.’ Makhachev is combating with accidents. Gaethje’s fought with accidents. All people does this on the highest degree.”
“However the harm and the opponent, these two issues mixed, after which the efficiency? Man, for me, that claims so much.”
After dropping to Makhachev, Poirier steered UFC 302 might have been his final battle. He additionally appeared hesitant to depart when he’s performing as effectively has he’s.
We are able to perceive why he’s so conflicted … to do this effectively towards the pound-for-pound No. 1 ranked fighter when injured says so much about “The Diamond” and his skills. However cussed accidents are additionally an indication your physique is ageing. At 35 years previous, Poirier doesn’t heal like he used to. Now he has these injured ribs, one other shattered nostril, and a possible ACL tear.
Nobody can query Poirier’s warrior mentality. The spirit is clearly prepared, however the flesh getting too weak?
For full UFC 302 outcomes, protection and highlights click on HERE.
