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Stefan Tonev
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Poirier chokes out Chandler at UFC 281
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The lightweight fight carries big implications in the U.F.C.’s loaded 155-pound division

Dustin Poirier pulled out a huge finish to stop fellow lightweight contender Michael Chandler with a third-round submission (rear-naked choke) at frantic UFC 281 fight on Saturday night.

Both lightweight fighters came out firing in the Madison Square Garden in New York City, showing dominant moments in stand-up exchanges and battles on the ground.

But it was Chandler who pulled away early with heavy punches along the cage. Poirier, a U.F.C. veteran and former interim champion, ate a lot of hard shots only to return the favor towards the end of the first round.

He unloaded a barrage of strikes that knocked Chandler down and had him staggering around the Octagon. Chandler barely survived before the round came to a close.

Chandler, who joined the U.F.C. in 2021, went to his wrestling for a quick takedown into the second round. Poirier welcomed the action as he sliced Chandler up with elbows and punches.

Chandler eventually reversed and took Poirier’s back. “Diamond” escaped, but Chandler maintained top control for the rest of the round.

In Round 3, Chandler waited for another takedown. In the midst of slamming Poirier to the canvas, “Diamond” reversed and took Chandler’s back. Poirier worked the hands and found a window of opportunity to sink in the rear-naked choke.

“I have some jiu-jitsu!” Poirier said. “It’s a good thing he throws looping (punches). If he threw straight, he’d probably have gotten me out of there.”

Poirier will likely earn a title shot in the near future or perhaps a fight against Oliveira, who is now the No. 1 contender who lost the belt last month to Islam Makhachev.

The featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovskiwill challenge Makhachev for the lightweight belt in February in an attempt to become a simultaneous two-division champ.