Nate Diaz (photo via YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Dustin Poirier has received considerable praise since he stopped Conor McGregor at UFC 257. But, Nate Diaz believes Poirier’s victory was largely on account of McGregor making key, strategic mistakes.

Poirier battered McGregor’s lead leg with calf kicks in the fight, and in round two, he finished the star with punches. After the bout, McGregor reported that the kicks had significantly compromised his movement.

Recently Diaz spoke with ESPN, and when asked for his take on the bout, the outspoken fighter said this (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“I thought that Dustin Poirier was pretty owned the whole way through, and I think Conor dropped the ball,” Diaz said. “I thought that it was playing into … I don’t know, it was just a big old joke.

“(McGregor) was switching up his own role, playing up Mr. Nice Guy, but he was owning Dustin, and Dustin was just doing what he was told the whole way through. It’s just kind of corny, kind of funny to me. (I) think Conor had it going, but he just fell back to his same ways, (and) went in there, and I think he (expletive) up more than Dustin did anything good.

“I think it was less of Dustin doing anything great and more of Conor (expletive) up. That’s my personal opinion.”

The 35-year-old Diaz (20-12) hasn’t fought since November, 2019 when he lost via doctor stoppage to Jorge Masvidal. The Stockton fighter also reported that he’s interested in fighting Charles Oliveira or Poirier next, but at welterweight.