Erik Koch vs Dustin Poirier
by Dr. Octagon, J.D.
Keep an eye out for Erik Koch’s terrible Kochhead tattoo on his right arm. Remember kids, tattoos are permanent. Dustin Poirier was my Underdog Pick of the Night, in case you’re into that sort of thing. Live updates after the jump:[[MORE]]
Round 1: Dustin lands a leg kick. Koch returns with a kick of his own. Dustin lands a leg kick. Left hand lands for Dustin. Left lands for Dustin and Koch is on the ground, but he’s got Dustin in a tight triangle. Poirier is going to have a hard time getting out of that.
Dustin’s out! Holy smoke. That was a tight triangle and he’s almost in it again. Dustin lets Koch stand. Koch grabs onto Dustin and eats a punch in the face. The fighters engage in a slow dance against the cage. Dustin reverses Koch and pushes him against the cage. Dustin lands a left hand. Dustin lands a knee. Koch is bleeding out of his mouth as he eats another uppercut.
Dustin with a left, then puts Koch on his ass with a right. Dustin is trying to end the fight with a minute and a half left. Koch is badly hurt. Dustin is landing clean punches to Koch’s chin. Another huge strike by Dustin. Koch is able to get up, but Dustin pulls him right back down. Poirier continues to brutalize Koch. Dustin locks in a D'arce choke with fifteen seconds left, but lets it go.
Round 2: Dustin lands a shot to the body, then a left hand. Koch is landing a few shots of his own, but Dustin isn’t fearing his power. Leg kick for Dustin. A punch lands for Koch. Left lands for Dustin. Left to the body by Dustin. Big left by Dustin.
The fighters tie up, Dustin gets the takedown and gets on top of Koch. Koch is sitting up against the cage and sucking wind. Dustin has a full mount and is looking for an arm triangle. Dustin landing some good shots from the top position. Koch is able to stand, but Dustin lands a big knee and a right to the body. ice right elbow from the clinch by Dustin.
Dustin’s got a single, but he lets it go. Big left elbow by Dustin. Koch is carrying his hands pretty low. It looks like there’s a bit of swelling under Dustin’s eye. Another left lands for Dustin. Koch ties up Dustin as the round ends.
Round 3: Koch starts out a little more active, likely because he knows he needs a knockout. But Dustin lands a left, and it just looks like Poirier has more power in his punches. Dustin is working for a takedown against the cage, as Koch bleeds on him. Left elbow by Poirier, who goes back to working on the single. He lets it go.
Dustin lands a left and somehow falls down. Koch is on top with three minutes to work; he needs to finish this fight. Koch looks tired and is not really working as Dustin holds on. Koch lands an elbow. Elbow by Koch scores. Two minutes left. Koch has Poirier’s back with a minute and a half left. Does Koch have enough in the tank to finish this?
Koch has the body triangle locked in tight, but Dustin is trying to shake Koch off the top. Thirty seconds left. Koch needs to work faster. Koch still has the back and is looking for the rear naked choke, but there’s 10 seconds left and Koch’s arms are too gassed to win it.
I’ve got it 29-28 Poirier, which should be clear as day even to these terrible judges. Barring a ridiculous hometown decision, Dustin should take it. The fighters seem pretty chummy.
Judges score it 29-28 and 29-27 (twice) for Dustin Poirier. Jeez, these guys are loose with 10-8 rounds. I told you guys to bet on Dustin in the preview. Hope you cashed in.