Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier built up a great deal of good will before their non-title struggle at UFC 257 in January, but that good will appears to be gone.
The 2 lightweights lashed out in each other on social websites on Sunday, less than three weeks ahead of their scheduled trilogy bout at UFC 264 on July 10. The origin of the back-and-forth is really what brought them together at the beginning of the year: a contribution from McGregor to Poirier’s charity, The fantastic Fight Foundation.
Ahead of UFC 257,” McGregor said he’d contribute $500,000 to Poirier’s charity, and it would go towards building a fitness center for disadvantaged youth in Poirier’s hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. On Sunday, Poirier accused McGregor of dismissing his efforts to reach out regarding the contribution after the fight, which Poirier won through second-round TKO.
“That’s a enjoyable prediction! ,” wrote Poirier, in reference to a knockout prediction from McGregor. “You also predicted a donation for my foundation and also you and your team stopped reacting after the fight in January. See you shortly.”
McGregor, who drew praise for his philanthropic efforts in Ireland during the year’s coronavirus pandemic, acknowledged in a response to Poirier he hadn’t yet made a contribution, but claimed he had been awaiting details about how the money would be used.
“A donation, not a debt,” McGregor wrote on Twitter. “We’ve been anticipating the strategies for the money that never came. I do with my donations. Know where it is going dot for dot. Otherwise it moves . As is the case with a number of these foundations, sadly. You chose the McG over the belt shows I was right”
McGregor’s agent, Audie Attar, also responded to Poirier’s accusation on Twitter, and appeared to signify the donation would nevertheless be made.
Poirier’s foundation is well-known within the MMA community. Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov also made a contribution in 2019. Among other ventures, the base has built a playground for special needs children and provided backpacks to colleges.
On Monday morning, McGregor went so far as to say the trilogy bout against Poirier was off, and he would,”Fight somebody else about the 10th.” In a different post eight minutes later, nevertheless, he threatened Poirier would cover his remarks with his bodily well-being.
McGregor scored a first-round knockout over Poirier if they were equally featherweights at 2014. Poirier avenged that loss from the rematch in January.