UFC 264: Conor McGregor 'breaks ankle' in trilogy defeat by Dustin Poirier

Irishman stopped by doctor for third defeat in four octagon outings

Conor McGregor is carried off on a stretcher following an injury suffered against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Conor McGregor after suffering an injury.

Conor McGregor moves in for a hit against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264.

Conor McGregor lands a hit against Dustin Poirier.

Conor McGregor following his ankle injury.

Former US President Donald Trump attends UFC 264.

Conor McGregor was defeated in his trilogy clash with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in Las Vegas on Sunday after seemingly breaking his ankle at the end of the first round.

The Irishman, seeking to rebound following his defeat in Abu Dhabi in January, had absorbed some damage from his rival in the opening exchanges, before his left ankle gave way just before the round closed out. The victory went to Poirier by doctor’s stoppage, meaning he concluded the rivalry 2-1 up. McGregor had won their initial bout, in 2014.

Poirier, a former lightweight interim champion, will next take on current champion Charles Oliveira. McGregor, meanwhile, has now registered a solitary victory in his past four octagon appearances.

Immediately afterwards, Poirier said: “He fractured it on one of the checks at the beginning of the fight, then it broke on a punch, for sure. I pointed at him at the beginning of the fight, that's when I checked a kick, that's when it cracked.”

A seething McGregor, sitting inside the octagon with his leg in a brace, said: "I was boxing the bleeding head off him and kicking the bleeding leg off him. This is not over. If I have to take this outside, I’ll take it outside.”