Dustin Poirier Makes Honest Admission About Conor McGregor Amid UFC Comeback

The last time Conor McGregor stepped into the Octagon was against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, a fight McGregor lost after suffering fractures to both his fibula and tibia.

Now, roughly five years later, McGregor is scheduled to return to the UFC for a welterweight bout at 170 pounds against Max Holloway on July 11 at UFC 329 during International Fight Week.

What version of McGregor fans will see is still uncertain, but if anyone understands his fighting style, persona, and fight buildup, it's Poirier, who has faced him three times and defeated him twice.

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Poirier, who has had a long and heated history with McGregor, still admitted the Irish star is one of his favorite fighters to watch.

"Conor McGregor… he's must-watch TV anytime he fights.,” Poirier said during Deep Waters on UFC Paramount +. “He hasn't fought in five years and still the whole world can't wait for his return, can't wait for this announcement they made, they're blowing it up… it's a spectacle every time he fights."

In discussing McGregor's microphone skills, Poirier praised him for backing up his talk and highlighted his historic first-round knockout of legend José Aldo at UFC 194.

"He had so many crazy moments in these press conferences, but the thing was, he was doing all this stuff and performing,” Poirier added. “Putting guys out, man… Nobody has ever done that to [Jose Aldo]."

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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 11:45 AM.