5 Takeaways From UFC On FOX 30
2. Dustin Poirier Is The All-Violence Champ
Dustin Poirier is the all-violence champ, but he dropped the belt!
Saturday night at UFC on FOX 30, the main event featured a rematch between Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier, from their fight a year ago at UFC 211. The first fight ended due to the use of illegal knees by Alvarez, a disappointing finish to a promising battle.
The rematch was a long time coming. Poirier pursued it for the better part of a year. At least initially Alvarez seem disinterested, taking a fight with Justin Gaethje instead. That fight became known as the fight for the unofficial Most Violent Fighter title, or All-Violence championship. It turned out to be an incredible war that saw both men sustain heavy damage. Alvarez was able to finish Gaethje to claim the violence title, but on Saturday, Poirier (who had his own bloody war with Gaethje), claimed the title as his own. After coming close to being finished in the second round, Alvarez's use of an illegal 12-6 elbow led to a standup that allowed Poirier to rock the former champ. Alvarez covered up, bobbed and weaved, fired back blindly, but ate an onslaught of fists, elbows, forearms - anything Porier could throw. Finally, Eddie Alvarez went down. Poirier was the new violence king.
However, recognizing the health impact of such a violent style, Poirier admitted post-fight that he didn't really want that particular label.
It may be too late however. Thanks to his wars with Alvarez and Gaethje, fans have come to expect it.