Pros react to the controversial finish between Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier
In the featured bout of tonight’s UFC 211 prelims, former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez took on perennial division contender Dustin Poirier.
“The Diamond” appeared to get the better of Alvarez in the fights opening round, using his range to keep the distance and get in the better overall strikes.
In round two Poirier was able to land a huge left hand on Alvarez that had Eddie in all sorts of trouble. “The Diamond” was able to score a flurry of bunches before Eddie came back and landed a massive shot of his own. Both fighters started swinging for the fences but it was Alvarez getting in the better strikes. Eddie would eventually get the fight to the floor but as Dustin was getting up he connected a pair of knees, the second of which was for sure illegal. The referee quickly stepped in to put a stop to the action and after being seen by doctors, Poirier was deemed unfit to continue.
Here is how the pros reacted to the controversial stoppage and contest ruling.
https://twitter.com/TonyFergusonXT/status/863571302921019392
It's hard to keep up with all these new rules. #UFC211
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) May 14, 2017
Raise both their and hands and fuck it. Good fight.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 14, 2017
Old rules. This is awful for DP. Should be DQ win for DP https://t.co/eTOxbl6PUS
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) May 14, 2017
I love eddie, but he should be DQ'd… #UFC211 But all that is on Herb for not jumping in after the first knee.
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) May 14, 2017
Oops I did that on purpose
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) May 14, 2017
Shit. That's a shame #UFC211
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) May 14, 2017
That's legal
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) May 14, 2017
That's a DQ…..in my opinion #UFC211
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 14, 2017
Props to Herb for sticking to his decision, even if he'll see that it's probably wrong later. Time to use replays. https://t.co/Dn0GD383mh
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) May 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/funkmaster_ufc/status/863576412070051841
It's clear that no one actually knows the rules #UFC211
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 14, 2017
Not the way I wanted that fight to end.. sorry everyone….@danawhite @seanshelby we have to do it again
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) May 14, 2017
I just did a 8 week dedicated camp put my all into it. For it to end like this is heartbreaking man.. no win bonus….
I was going to win
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) May 14, 2017
Get the full Alvarez vs. Poirier fight recap below:
Round one begins and Poirier misses with a right hand. Eddie backs up and briefly stumbles. Poirier circles and then lands a leg kick. He scores another. Eddie presses forward and misses with a right. He connects with a left hook. Eddie misses with a wild right hand. Once again he finds a home for his left hand. Poirier steps in and lands a jab. Eddie misses with an uppercut and then eats a jab. Eddie fires back with a jab to the body. Poirier with a nice straight left hand. He lands a kick to the body. Eddie fires back with a right hand. Dustin responds with a kick to the body of Alvarez. Eddie lands a nice combination. Dustin circles out and then comes forward with a right hook that partially lands. Poirier with a nice left hand up the middle. Eddie backs off and then eats a pair of kicks from Dustin. Eddie leaps in and lands a nice right hand. Poirier responds with a left hand and then a nice leg kick. Eddie circles out and then comes forward with a low kick. He tries a kick upstairs but it is blocked. Eddie lands a right hand to close out round one.
In round two Dustin Poirier was able to catch Alvarez with a huge left hand that had Eddie in all sorts of trouble. Dustin continued to pour on a ton of shots before Eddie somehow turned the tide by landing a big right hand of his own. A bloodied up Alvarez began to put on the pressure and eventually scored a takedown. Eddie tried to work for a guillotine choke but Dustin was able to escape the hold. As Dustin was attempting to stand back up Alvarez caught him with a pair of knees the second of which was definitely illegal. Herb Dean stepped in and after being looked at by the doctors Poirier was deemed unfit to continue.