Dustin Poirier says karma came back to bite Conor McGregor with broken leg at UFC 264

LAS VEGAS – Dustin Poirier thinks it’s ironic Conor McGregor vowed to send him out on a stretcher at UFC 264.

Poirier (28-6 MMA, 20-5 UFC) defeated McGregor by TKO due to doctor’s stoppage in the main event Saturday after McGregor suffered a broken tibia and fibula right before the end of the opening frame. Referee Herb Dean waved the fight off at the end of Round 1 when doctors saw McGregor’s leg was broken. He was taken out of the octagon on a stretcher.

While Poirier isn’t necessarily happy with the way the fight ended, he thinks McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) deserves the consequences considering his harsh threats in the lead-up to the fight.

“You never want to get a win that way, but what happened was a result of checking a kick,” Poirier told MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “I’m more than sure of it, and he got what he had coming to him. Karma’s a mirror, and I busted my ass for so long to put myself in this position. I doubled down on myself after beating him in January when they offered me a title shot. I doubled down on myself, and it paid off.”

McGregor attempted to make things ugly prior to the contest, even taking shots at Poirier’s wife. After the fight, a frustrated McGregor continued to lob threats Poirier’s way, insulting his wife once again in the process.

But despite McGregor’s questionable choice of words, Poirier insists he wishes no ill will toward the Irish superstar.

“Listen, Conor said some nasty stuff that didn’t make it on ‘(UFC) Embedded,’” Poirier said. “Maybe when this behind-the-scenes for this fight airs, you’ll see him on the ground still saying some real bad stuff. But even that stuff being said, I don’t wish serious harm like that on nobody.

“The guy’s got kids. I want him to go home safe to his family. I pray before these fights. Every time before I walk through the octagon door, I’m praying that – not for me to win – I’m praying that we both get out of this safe, because I know what I’m going to try to do to him and I know what he’s going to try to do to me.”

He does, however, think the two will cross paths again, whether it’s inside or outside the octagon. McGregor underwent a successful three-hour surgery and is looking at a six-week timeline for recovery. But for now, “The Diamond” is eyeing gold – he’s likely to challenge UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira next.