What Conor McGregor said to Dustin Poirier just moments before vicious KO at UFC 178 as rematch is ‘confirmed’ by Dana White

Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier are finally set to renew their rivalry in 2021 in a bout which has huge implications for the UFC lightweight division.

After Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement following a one-sided victory over Justin Gaethje, the 155lbs division was thrown open and McGregor’s chances of recapturing the belt subsequently shot up.

Dana White has claimed ‘The Notorious’ could return on January 23 at UFC 257 on Fight Island, although ‘there are a ton of if’s right now’.

Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor could be set to resume their rivalry once againGetty Images - Getty

Of course, McGregor has history with ‘The Diamond’ having fought back in 2014 at UFC 178 when the pair where both fledgling featherweights trying to make it.

The avalanche of popularity which would propel the Irishman to superstardom was beginning to gather pace at the time, with Poirier seen as a genuine threat to his perfect start in the UFC.

After finishing Diego Brandao in Dublin, McGregor was looking to secure his fourth consecutive win in the UFC’s 145lbs division as he chased champion Jose Aldo.

Instantly, he sought about getting into Poirier’s head at every opportunity and ramped up the trash talking. He infamously promised a first round knockout, which only drew more ire from the Louisiana-native.

McGregor managed to get inside the head of ‘The Diamond’Getty Images - Getty

Although it seems odd to think of either man as anything other than a headline star, the bout played third fiddle to Eddie Alvarez’s loss to Donald Cerrone and then main event between Demetrious Johnson and Chris Carioso. But McGregor made sure the world was talking about ‘The Notorious’ afterwards.

Having started the fight with a right hook kick aimed at the head, McGregor peppered Poirier’s defence with a series of searing left hands.

Seemingly confident of securing his first-round finish, the Irishman dropped his hands and proceeded forward with complete disregard for what was coming back.

Then, after Poirier eventually returned fire, he said to him: ‘What you got p****? Is that all you got p****?’

McGregor spoke to Poirier mere seconds before knocking him outUFC (YouTube)The Irishman, who was known by ‘Mystic Mac’ by this time, delivered on a round one KOGetty Images - Getty

Within seconds, McGregor threw a double jab to occupy Poirier’s lead hand and, with extreme precision and power, landed a typically devastating left hand which dropped his opponent and continued to bounce his head off the canvas.

Of course, things have changed considerably for both men. While McGregor became the first ever UFC ‘double-champ’, Poirier hustled quietly in the background and rebuilt himself as a lightweight.

After running through a gauntlet of contenders, he claimed the interim world title against Max Holloway before being bested by Khabib at UFC 242.

But, despite suffering one loss to McGregor already, you can bet Poirier would love nothing more than to spoil his imminent comeback.