Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint Denis squared off at UFC 299 with what seemed to be everything on the line. Poirier, fighting for his legacy in possibly one of his last fights in the Octagon, was fired up to show that he still deserved to be considered a threat in the lightweight division. Saint Denis, coming off five finishes, was looking to prove that he was not a flash in the pan, but a serious contender.
So, when they touched down in the Octagon, someone was bound to leave disappointed. Poirier was seven years older than Saint Denis and was the underdog going into this co-main event. Poirier was expected to be leaving disappointed but was rained with cheers from the crowd, seemingly because Poirier trains less than an hour away from Kaseya Center. Saint Denis did not have the same luxury as he was jeered with boos from the crowd.
Saint Denis started off with relentless pressure and Poirier was probably having Khabib flashbacks early. It was unusual, though, because Poirier was immediately targeting a guillotine choke every single time Saint Denis shot for a takedown.
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Dustin Poirier has never finished anyone in the UFC with a guillotine choke. In this fight against Benoit Saint Denis, Poirier “jumped the gilly” four times. While this may be met with praise as Poirier was attempting submission, it was giving Saint Denis a ton of control time and a lead that might have been unrecoverable.
That was the case in round one where Saint Denis won every scorecard. It would not be until the second where Poirier found his range and introduced Saint Denis to his hands, which was soon met with wobbling legs. Once Poirier found his window, he took it and immediately unleashed a barrage of punches that sat Saint Denis and ultimately ended the fight.
This became Poirier’s 22nd UFC win and arguably the sweetest. This was the birthing of “jumping the gilly” as Poirier states he will never stop doing it. Another win for one of the best lightweights the UFC has ever seen and an unforgettable moment.
