Tensions are rising between Dustin
Poirier and Conor
McGregor heading into their trilogy bout at
UFC 264.
While the two lightweight stars were generally cordial with one
another in the lead-up to their rematch at UFC 257, the tone of
their relationship took a turn when Poirier revealed that McGregor
never followed through on a promised $500,000 donation to his
charity, The Good Fight
Foundation. Poirier’s claim came in response to the SBG Ireland
standout’s prediction for their fight.
“That’s a fun prediction! You also predicted a donation to my
foundation and you and your team stopped responding after the fight
in January,” Poirier wrote. “See you soon. July 10th Paid In
Full!”
That’s a fun prediction! @TheNotoriousMMA
you also predicted a donation to my foundation and you and your
team stopped responding after the fight in January.
See you soon.
July 10th Paid In Full!— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier)
April 11, 2021
The Good Fight is a charity that was founded by Poirier and his
wife, Jolie, which began when the fighter used money received from
auctioning off his fight gear to help underserved communities in
their Louisiana hometown. In 2018, it became a fullly registered
international non-profit organization. Recent initiatives include
teaming up with Fight for the Forgotten to dig wells for the Batwa
Pigmy Tribe in Uganda, a Thanksgiving food drive for shelters in
Acadiana, La., and providing school supplies for children, among
others.
McGregor eventually responded to Poirier’s allegation, saying that
“The Diamond” never made it clear for what the donation would be
used. He also implied that Poirier’s primary interest is financial
gain, which is why he accepted the trilogy bout instead of a
lightweight title shot after beating McGregor in their rematch at
UFC 257.
“A donation, not a debt,” McGregor wrote. “We’ve been awaiting the
plans for the money that never came. I do with all my donations.
Know where it’s going dot for dot. Otherwise it goes walking. As is
the case with a lot of these foundations, sadly. You took the McG
over the belt shows I was right.”
A donation, not a debt. We’ve been awaiting
the plans for the money that never came. I do with all my
donations. Know where it’s going dot for dot. Otherwise it goes
walking. As is the case with a lot of these foundations, sadly. You
took the McG over the belt shows I was right.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA)
April 12, 2021
Poirier replied in turn, claiming that email inquiries to
McGregor’s team were not answered.
“100% never a debt,” Poirier wrote. “You offered, we accepted, and
like I said your Team never responded to our emails regarding the
process of where funds would be put to work! July 10th you will
taste defeat yet Again.”
100% never a debt. You offered, we accepted,
and like I said your Team never responded to our emails regarding
the process of where funds would be put to work! July 10th you will
taste defeat yet Again https://t.co/k3Cu9DG1Me— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier)
April 12, 2021
Several hours later, McGregor’s replies got uglier, and the former
two-division champion even claimed that UFC 264 bout is off.
“You’re ripped you inbred hillbilly,” he wrote. “Why do you wink
with your ears? You fucking brain dead hillbilly. 500k with no plan
in place. Ye hang tight. Fool. You must be new to money. The fight
is off btw. I’m going to fight someone else on the 10th. Good luck
on your old contract kid. “My team does their due diligence to make
sure every donation meets the mark. My generosity is known. You
will pay with your brain for this attempt at smearing my name.
Shooting ass shelling ass bitch. Little bitch kicks from a shell.
Good luck when you’re caught. You’re fucked.”
You’re ripped you inbred hillbilly. Why do
you wink with your ears? You fucking brain dead hillbilly. 500k
with no plan in place. Ye hang tight. Fool. You must be new to
money. The fight is off btw. I’m going to fight someone else on the
10th. Good luck on your old contract kid.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA)
April 12, 2021
My team does their due diligence to make
sure every donation meets the mark. My generosity is known. You
will pay with your brain for this attempt at smearing my name.
Shooting ass shelling ass bitch. Little bitch kicks from a shell.
Good luck when you’re caught. You’re fucked.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA)
April 12, 2021
Poirier defeated McGregor by second-round technical knockout in
their rematch at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23. McGregor,
meanwhile, stopped “The Diamond” in the opening stanza of their
initial meeting at featherweight in September 2014. UFC 264 takes
place on July 10 and has been targeted for the T-Mobile Arena in
Las Vegas, though that venue is not yet official.