Conor’s ‘fatal error’ puts career in jeopardy

Conor McGregor broke his leg in his loss to Dustin Poirier on Sunday, but the bigger concern for the Irishman is the fact that his UFC career is hanging by a thread.

Late in the first round of their trilogy bout at Las Vegas’ T- Mobile Arena, McGregor stepped back and his leg snapped and collapsed under him.

Although he survived until the end of the round, McGregor’s leg was horrifically damaged and the fight was stopped.

Discussion among fans and pundits has quickly turned to whether the man known as the Notorious can recover from this loss to resurrect his UFC career.

Commentators believe McGregor made a fatal strategic error during the fight that robbed him of any chance of being competitive.

Towards the end of the first round, McGregor attempted a guillotine move on Poirier, in the hope he could engage him in a standing choke hold.

But Poirier swooped, using the move to take McGregor to the floor and execute some excellent ground and pound on his opponent, moving the fight heavily in his favour.

UFC commentator Joe Rogansaid it was “fatal error” by McGregor to attempt a guillotine.

“I felt like Conor was fantastic early on,” he said.

“He was landing brutal leg kicks, he was landing good shots, but it’s a fight and it’s a war.
 

“Conor made a big mistake, it was an error but when they went to the ground, Dustin was getting off some nasty ground and pound.

“I think Conor was exhausted. Dustin is trying to clinch, he’s trying to take him down and Conor decides to try and get this guillotine — fatal error.”

McGregor’s choice to come out all guns blazing with leg kicks in the first round was another tactical error.

“Whatever happened with the ankle might have been a factor but let’s be honest, Conor fades,” Rogan added.

“He’s not a guy that’s going to fight the same pace for five rounds and Dustin is.”

“It’s always about who gets to the position in the cage that best suits their talent,” ESPN commentator Teddy Atlas said.

“And that was Poirier, there’s no doubt about it.

“He’s a better grappler, he’s better at Jujitsu, he’s better on the floor, on the mat. And he got to the places he needed to be.

“He needed to get in close, one way or the other — close in striking or close when he was on the floor when he’s going to be in a grappling situation.”

Atlas said McGregor’s gamble didn’t pay off.

“It seemed to me like Conor went all in,” he said.

“When we when for the guillotine, he went all. Much like a poker player would say OK this is my opportunity, I’m putting all my chips in.”
 

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