Dustin Poirier served up a reminder that he’s still one of the top dogs at 155lbs tonight at UFC 299 as he brought Benoit Saint Denis winning streak to a screeching halt courtesy of a right hook knockout in the second round.
Round One:
Kick to the thigh from Saint-Denis to start. Then one to the calf. Chopping calf kick from Poirier.
Counter left-hook from Poirier as BSD rushes in on a takedown attempt. Saint-Denis looks for the takedown but instead Poirier drops down for a guillotine choke attempt. BSD rolls away from that and stays on top.
Poirier stands against the cage, but Saint-Denis stays clinched to his back. Poirier throws an elbow behind him. Saint-Denis lands a few punches and then hops onto Poirier’s back. However he’s a bit high and Poirier does well to shake him off.
BSD lands a few good punches. Poirier threatens with a standing guillotine choke but Saint-Denis gets away.
Kick for Poirier. BSD blasts him with a few punches and gets into the clinch against the cage working elbows. Poirier manages to get away.
Now it’s Poirier working for a takedown on the other side of the cage. There’s a scramble then back up. Nasty elbows from BSD and then a hard punch from Poirier.
Saint-Denis clinches up and as they go to the mat now Poirier is trying the guillotine choke again. BSD fends that off and then is able to take Poirier’s back.
Final minute and Saint-Denis is looking for a chance to sink in a rear-naked choke. He gets the body triangle locked in. Poirier trying to turn into him and Saint-Denis goes for an armbar. Poirier wags a finger though indicating that’s not going to happen as he gets his arm free just as the round ends.
Round Two:
Missed kick from Saint-Denis but he keeps coming forward looking for more offense. Uppercut from Poirier. BSD working for the takedown and Poirier is right back to trying to get the guillotine, but Saint-Denis gets out of that again.
Saint-Denis now working to improve his position and gets Poirier’s back. Looks like a good spot for him, but Poirier does well to suddenly work back to his feet. BSD is still pressing him into the cage though. Good combination from Saint-Denis.
Back to striking range. BSD continually applying pressure, but then he’s punished for it as Poirier blasts him with a big punches that puts him down to a knee for a split-second.
BSD trying to fight through this, but is punished for it as Poirier lands a right hook that sends him crashing to the canvas, and that’s it, a great knockout victory for ‘The Diamond’ at 2.32mins of the second round.
