Dustin Poirier has been handed a one-month medical suspension after his loss to Charles Oliveira on Saturday night at UFC 269.
Poirier was making his second attempt at the undisputed world lightweight title, and was once again beaten by a rear naked choke in the third round after dominating the early exchanges.
The American lost his last effort at the undisputed title to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019 to the same manoeuvre, and was suspended for the same period of 30 days.
He took similarly damaging shots on Saturday night, particularly in the second round when Oliveira turned the tides of the fight and got it to the ground, but wasn't severely injured.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission handed out their suspensions today, and luckily for Poirier should he choose to return next year, he can do so from January 11.
Oliveira was handed the same suspension of 30 days, while top prospect Sean O'Malley was hit with a massive six-month ban pending further scans on a hand injury.
Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena also picked up minimal suspensions, while Pedro Munhoz and Miranda Maverick could be set for massive six-month lay-offs.
The fight was one of the most highly anticipated of the year, with Poirier coming off the back of two of the biggest fights in history against Conor McGregor.
He had stopped the Irishman in both of those contests, and entered as a slight favourite against Oliveira, whose unlikely rise to the title has shocked fans and experts.
And it started as expected, with Poirier getting the better of the opening round, even dropping Oliveira in the first 30 seconds of the fight.
The fight began to get a bit closer as it wore on, with Oliveira landing a few knees in the clinch, although he decisively lost the opening round on all three scorecards.
However, it all turned after Oliveira got Poirier down in the second, landing heavy shots that earned him a 10-8 with two of the three ringside judges.
What would you like to see Dustin Poirier do next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
And he would end the fight seconds into the third round when he got Poirier's back and landed the choke, defending his belt successfully for the first time.
“I can do anything I put my mind to," Poirier insisted after the fight. "I can fight for another belt, I can go on another streak.
"I can claw and climb and get back to wherever I want to be - it’s just, ‘Do I want to?’
"That’s the question I’ve got to look in the mirror and answer; 'do I want to do it again? Do I want to go down that road again?'
"That answer will come in the next couple days or couple weeks, I just need to let this pass and see what’s next for me.
"But if it’s in my heart and that’s what I want to do, I’ll be here fighting for another world title.”
Oliveira has since been called out by McGregor, although it is unlikely that the Irishman will get a title fight after just one win in the last five years.
