As promised, the main event of UFC 264 between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier was memorable. It just might not have been what you'd call climactic.<\/p>\n
The fight ended after the first round, which heavily went Poirier's way, came to a close. McGregor was left sitting against the Octagon and a replay (some would say too many replays) showed what had happened: McGregor's lower leg snapped as he squared up against Poirier.<\/p>\n
The fight was immediately called a TKO for Poirier by doctor's stoppage, and then the real fireworks started. Poirier breathed fire in his post-win interview after several weeks of taking McGregor's verbal abuse, while McGregor was visibly emotional while he was interviewed still sitting on the floor.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
UFC president Dana White later confirmed that McGregor had broken his lower tibia.<\/p>\n
Some, including former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, speculated that McGregor may have fought his last UFC fight, either due to the gruesomeness of the injury or for financial reasons.<\/p>\n
Man, I wonder if he will ever fight again after this.. heal up champ, this is terrible<\/p>\n
\u2014 BONY (@JonnyBones) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n
Is this the final image of Conor McGregor in the UFC Octagon? pic.twitter.com\/AtWAkplTG9<\/p>\n
\u2014 Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n
damn. crazy to see a star with such a meteoric rise literally plummet into the ground just a few years later. It\u2019s sad tbh. RIP Conor McGregor\u2019s career<\/p>\n
\u2014 Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n
Last time we see Conor fight. Nasty.#ufc264<\/p>\n
\u2014 Aleksandar Rakic (@rakic_ufc) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sad.<\/p>\n
I really think that\u2019s the end of Conor\u2019s UFC career.<\/p>\n
Other fights just won\u2019t have this level of significance.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Jack \u201cCouRage\u201d Dunlop (@CouRageJD) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n
Some also dredged up a three-month old tweet from McGregor that eerily described a very similar injury. Many, including Poirier, speculated that the real damage to McGregor's leg was done through calf kicks earlier in the round.<\/p>\n
He had to have a load of micro fractures in the leg possibly for it snap then. The placement of the kick was nice enough. It wasn\u2019t fully checked. He hit the meat. Enough of it anyway. Had to have been damaged over time without knowing. Wear and tear.
Careful on them kicks lads!<\/p>\n
\u2014 Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 25, 2021<\/p>\n
There was also the irony of McGregor needing to be taken out of the Octagon on a stretcher after threatening the same to Poirier leading into the bout.<\/p>\n
Crazy to think that at the end of the weigh in Conor said he would be taken out on a stretcher. And now Conor gets taken out on a stretcher. Man this game we play is so crazy!!!! Hats off to the Diamond of Lafayette!! @DustinPoirier<\/p>\n
\u2014 Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n
What's next for McGregor? Well, many have wondered if he'll someday step in the ring against Jake Paul, who is attempting to carve out a boxing career by fighting athletes who are not boxers. Paul for his part lowered his offer. Again.<\/p>\n
My new offer for Conor Mcgregor is $23 dollars<\/p>\n
\u2014 Paul Paul (@jakepaul) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n
Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov described the fight was good defeating evil and expressed hope that Poirier will capture his old belt against Charles Oliveira later this year.<\/p>\n
Good always defeats evil.
Very happy for @DustinPoirier I hope you will get the belt end of the year<\/p>\n
\u2014 khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n
There was some<\/em> praise and well-wishing for McGregor.<\/p>\n Conor kept fighting till the bell that\u2019s tough<\/p>\n \u2014 Al Iaquinta\ud83d\uddfd (@ALIAQUINTA) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udfff Mcgregor<\/p>\n \u2014 Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n speedy recovery @TheNotoriousMMA \u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n \u2014 Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n This sport is so crazy. You never want to see anyone go down with an injury of this severity. I hope Conor recovers and bounces back. #UFC264<\/p>\n \u2014 Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n But there was even more scorn for a fighter who has one UFC win in the last five years, especially when McGregor made a crude remark about Poirier's wife toward the end of his interview.<\/p>\n The trash talking about Dustin\u2019s wife had that internet troll feel – very distasteful and unbecoming of any competitor, let alone a champion. https:\/\/t.co\/8Ur44OkEF4<\/p>\n \u2014 Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd21<\/p>\n \u2014 Justin Gaethje \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Justin_Gaethje) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n I used to cheer for Conor McGregor, but impossible to support a man who is sitting on the ground after defeat still yelling insults at his opponent's wife.<\/p>\n \u2014 Pomp \ud83c\udf2a (@APompliano) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n Shouldn\u2019t speak on a mans wife!!<\/p>\n \u2014 Mike "Biggie" Rhodes (@TeamRocBiggie) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n Don\u2019t talk about a mans wife that\u2019s karma<\/p>\n \u2014 Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n This game humbles #UFC264<\/p>\n \u2014 Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n It's like a train wreck I just can't look away #UFC264<\/p>\n \u2014 Leah Letson UFC (@LeahNidasMMA) July 11, 2021<\/p>\n More from Yahoo Sports:<\/strong><\/p>\n