Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier fought three times between 2014 and 2021. McGregor won the first fight in 1:46 of round one at UFC 178. Poirier won the second and third via TKO, with the trilogy ending on a broken tibia for McGregor at UFC 264 in July 2021. Three fights across seven years, each completely different in outcome and context.
#3 — UFC 178 (September 2014) — Featherweight
The first McGregor-Poirier fight happened at a time when McGregor was a rising prospect and Poirier was an established featherweight contender. McGregor stopped him in 1:46 of round one with a left hand combination that put Poirier on the canvas, followed by a ground-and-pound finish. The performance established McGregor at the highest level of the featherweight division and began his run toward the José Aldo title fight. Poirier, at 25, had already shown his quality — he had beaten Cub Swanson and would go on to build one of the division's great resumes. The finish at UFC 178 was clean and complete. McGregor Notorious shirts reference the era that began with that win.
#2 — UFC 257 (January 2021) — Lightweight
Seven years after the first fight, McGregor and Poirier met at lightweight on Fight Island. Poirier had evolved into a different fighter by 2021 — the Diamond who had beaten Holloway, pushed Khabib, and knocked out Hooker. He came in with a specific game plan: body kick damage early to compromise McGregor's movement, then push the pace in round two. The plan worked. McGregor's left hand was still dangerous in round one, but Poirier's calf kicks accumulated and his return fire in round two finished the fight via TKO at 2:32. The performance put Poirier in the title picture and gave McGregor his first UFC loss in six years. Poirier The Diamond tees carry the weight of that full arc.
Shop the Collection
View all →
#1 — UFC 264 (July 2021) — Lightweight
The trilogy fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was close through round one — McGregor's accuracy with the left hand was back, Poirier's leg kick pressure was consistent. The round ended with a controversial sequence: McGregor's tibia snapped on a checked leg kick attempt as time expired. McGregor continued throwing on the break before the fracture severity became apparent. The fight was stopped due to doctor stoppage between rounds. Poirier was declared winner by TKO at 0:00 of round two. It was not a clean finish but it was the end of an era — McGregor has not competed since. The McGregor collection and Poirier collection both reference this moment in UFC lightweight history.
Where to Start — The Trilogy for New Fans
If you're new to the trilogy, watch UFC 257 first — it's the clearest narrative fight with the most complete performances. Then watch UFC 264 for the drama and aftermath. UFC 178 is a historical document from McGregor's featherweight peak. For the full McGregor career picture, start at UFC 189 (the Mendes fight) and run forward. The McGregor Notorious shirt documents the fighter from that era. For Poirier's full story, The Diamond collection runs from the UFC 257 win through the Makhachev title shot at UFC 302.
McGregor and Poirier Merch — Representing Both Sides
The trilogy produced two different narratives — the McGregor era from 2014 to 2020, and the Poirier evolution that continues into 2026. Both fighters have dedicated collections that capture their distinct identities. The McGregor collection is the most searched UFC fighter merch. The Poirier Diamond collection is for the fan who follows the sport as closely as the stars.
