Arguably the most anticipated fight on the UFC 299 card for lovers of sheer violence, Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint-Denis faced off in a five-round co-main event.
The fight saw Poirier, a perennial contender at 155lbs, fighting down in the rankings, with France’s Saint-Denis facing the biggest opportunity of his career.
Saint-Denis opened up with a takedown attempt, and Poirier attempted to latch onto a Guillotine, which was a constant theme for the fight, as long as it lasted. However, Saint-Denis reversed it and took control of “The Diamond”‘s back. The pressure of Saint-Denis was constant. He was right in Poirier’s face from the opening bell. Yet another guillotine attempt from Poirier got him stuck with the “God of War” on his back with hooks in, for the rest of the round. A hectic first round, to say the least.
Poirier hurt Saint-Denis with a nasty counter shot, and despite his coaches telling him not too, Poirier jumped on another guillotine on a poor shot from Saint-Denis, but it wasn’t succesful. Poirier’s counter-striking was on point. Poirier wobbled the Frenchman bad, with a clean uppercut, briefly wobbling him down. The former-interim Champion caught Saint-Denis with a pin point right hook as he was swinging wildly, and that was all she wrote. Poirier defended #3 ranking, with a 2nd round KO. Poirier adds to his Hall-of-Fame resumè, by putting away a surging prospect.
Official result: Dustin Poirier defeats Benoit Saint-Denis via 2nd round Knockout.
