Three things to know about Dustin Poirer, Conor McGregor’s UFC 257 opponent

Conor McGregor will return to the octagon for UFC 257 on Jan. 23, according to his official website, and his opponent will be Dustin Poirier. 

The two lightweight fighters have met before. McGregor (22-4-0) defeated Poirier in at UFC 178 on Sept. 27, 2014 and the 31-year-old has only lost two fights since. He'll enter the venue, which has yet to be announced, with a 26-6-0 (1 NC) record.

Here are three things to know about Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier:

1. Familiar foes

Poirier was defeated by McGregor in less than two minutes back in 2014 when the Irish lightweight was in the midst of his ascension to the top of the UFC landscape. McGregor connected with a left hand and Poirier fell to his knees where the would-be-winner proceeded to hammer away at the back of his head before the referee had seen enough. 

It was the first and only TKO loss in Poirier's career.

McGregor and Dustin Poirier during their 2014 fight. (Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sp)

2. Fighting style

Like McGregor, Poirier is a southpaw and was nicknamed "The Diamond" for his tough nature.

He was raised by his mother and grandmother in Lafayette, Louisiana, and had gotten into so many street fights growing up he doesn't know the exact number, he said in a 2019 interview with GQ.

Poirer has a brown belt in jiu-jitsu and is naturally a striker because of his experience in boxing, according to his Everlast page.

3. Community service

Poirier, and his wife Jolie, have also used his success for the betterment of his community in Lafayette with their charitable foundation, "The Good Fight."

In a 2019 ESPN short documentary, Poirier said “after 41 fights, it’s just gross to have that many bloody gloves and shirts,” and decided to auction them off to help several local causes. His philanthropy was rewarded with the Community Hero Award by the Better Business Bureau.

Among his philanthropic ventures are the building of a playground at an elementary school for disabled children and water wells in Africa.

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