McGregor Slams Poirier, Says He’s Not A Step Up

Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier will square off at UFC 178 this weekend in a highly anticipated matchup that has been built up by months of trash talking.

Upon returning from ACL surgery, McGregor blasted through Diego Brandao earlier this summer at UFC Dublin, and is looking to build upon the win this weekend at UFC 178 against Poirier.

He spoke to MMAJunkie about why Poirier isn’t a step up in competition.

“I don’t believe he’s a step up or the best guy I’ve ever fought. I look in the mirror and that’s the best guy I’ve ever fought. For me, this fight seems easy.”

“He’s a journeyman fighter, and that’s what I see. He doesn’t impress me at all. I believe he’s a basic fighter, he throws basic shots, and in my eyes he’s a journeyman. It’s that simple.”

McGregor has stated previously that “fear has a very strong stench” and that he is able to detect it in his opponents, something he detected in Poirier when the had their first staredown.

“I definitely saw a broken man. I could look through his soul when I looked into that man’s eyes. He’s been speaking his bit, but as I said before: Face-to-face, man-to-man, he was broken. It was as simple as that.

“The performance will prove that because once the cage door closes and the lights go down, you can’t hide. There’s nowhere to run, there’s nowhere to hide. It will come out on Sept. 27 that what I’m saying is true.”

When the two step into the cage this Saturday night, who ‘ya got?

By Evan Stoumbelis