While it remains unclear whether it will happen sooner or later, it appears that a third fight between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier is a lock.
Poirier surprised many on Jan. 23 when he stopped betting favourite and former double champion McGregor in the second round of their UFC 257 main event on Fight Island. The Irishman scored a first-round finish in their initial meeting back in 2014 and many expected a similar end result when they ran it back.
However, with the head-to-head now tied at one apiece and the outcome of any given fight between the two now established as very hard to predict, a trilogy bout has most of the diehard MMA fanbase enthused.
McGregor apologised to his fans for letting them down shortly after the bout, but has mostly been quiet since — until writing a follow-up post for social media in which he critiqued his own performance in detail and made clear his intent to settle things with his friend and rival once and for all.
"What a trilogy I now have on my hands. Exciting!", wrote McGregor.
"With a handle on the leg kicks I will get back to having fun in there. I was in second gear cruising in this fight. Best condition I've ever been in. After the wrestling and clinch exchanges my shots still held their pop. First time for me with this so I am very encouraged to keep going.
"It was the first time I did not use/nor need the stool between rounds also. I did need the stools after tho (sic) that's for sure, as well as to this day.
"I am most certainly on the right path. Despite the loss I am on the correct path of evolution."
On the fight, McGregor continued: "I enjoyed racking up some more time inside the famed UFC Octagon. 40 seconds in three years is all I'd had up to this bout. I was savouring every second and enjoying my work.
"A little single disciplined in my approach and stance to mostly boxing. It's what I get for picking this bout and opponent as a precursor to a boxing match against Pacman (Manny Pacquiao).
"I deserved to get my legs kicked off me going in with this thinking. This is not the game to play around with.
"Besides this my shots were sharp and I was in full control. Albeit the leg attacks were building up on me throughout the course. 18 in total thrown at me, with the final one buckling my leg fully, that was that. The peroneal nerve compromised. Fascinating! Then a tremendous finishing flurry by my opponent. Hats off!
"One apiece now with a trilogy fight for all the marbles. Wow! 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 meant to be!"
Soon after the quotes went public, Poirier responded positively on Twitter.
"You know we are going to do it a third time," said the American.