UFC 264 is taking place this weekend in Las Vegas and is headlined by a trilogy between ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor and former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier.
The first time the two met, way back in September 2014, McGregor won via TKO in the first round.
Conor McGregor was having his fourth fight in the UFC and was on his way to becoming the first fighter in UFC history to simultaneously hold two belts when he won both the UFC Lightweight and Featherweight titles in just over two years after this fight.
It would be the last time Dustin Poirier would compete at Featherweight and he went on to win 11 of his next 14 fights (1 No Contest) to eventually win the Interim Lightweight belt against Max Holloway in 2019.
This wasn’t the only interesting fight that took place that night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
We’ve taken an in depth look at the entire UFC 178 card and the fighters that took to the Octagon and where they are now.
MAIN EVENT
Demetrious Johnson v Chris Cariaso
The UFC Flyweight Title was on the line in the Main Event at UFC 178 in Las Vegas when ‘Mighty Mouse’ took on Chris Cariaso.
Johnson won the fight via Submission in the second round.
He would later claim it was the easiest victory in his career.
Where Are They Now?
Mighty Mouse went on to defend his Flyweight title a staggering 11 times, ending with a split decision loss to Henry Cejudo in August 2018.
He would then be a part of a trade with One Championship that saw Ben Askren sign with the UFC.
He went on to win the Flyweight Grand Prix in October 2019 and lost his last fight by KO.
Cariaso went on to have two more fights.
He lost to Henry Cejudo and Sergio Pettis. Both by decision.
CO-MAIN EVENT
Cowboy Cerrone v Eddie Alverez
The Co-Main Event of the evening at UFC 178 saw Donald Cerrone winning a unanimous decision against Eddie Alvarez.
Cowboy landed 88 significant strikes to Eddie’s 48 in a complete performance.
Where Are They Now?
Cerrone won his next three fights to secure a title shot against Rafael dos Santos. A fight he lost by TKO in the first round.
Cowboy has gone on to be one of the most universally loved fighters in the UFC, holding many records along the way including Most Wins and Most Finishes in the promotion.
The UFC stalwart has been a staple in the Lightweight Top 10 for the majority of his career.
He does not have a victory to his name in his last six fights, including a devastating first round KO loss to Conor McGregor early in 2020.
Alvarez won the UFC Lightweight title three fights later when he beat RDA first round TKO in July 2016.
He then lost it in his next fight against Conor McGregor when the Irish superstar made history in New York by becoming the first fighter to hold two belts simultaneously.
Alverez now fights in the One Championship where he has a record of one win, two losses and a no contest.
MAIN CARD
Conor McGregor v Dustin Poirier
The Main Event at UFC 264 is looking an absolute treat for fight fans but in 2014, when these two first met, the two were at a very different stage in their careers.
The rise of Conor McGregor was just starting and although there was plenty of hype around for the Irishman, he was having just his fourth fight in the UFC.
The fight also took place in the Featherweight Division.
McGregor caught Poirier just below the temple and it the fight was all over inside two minutes.
Where Are They Now?
McGregor went on to become the biggest drawcard in the history of the sport, crossing over into boxing to make the majority of his fortune, and now returning for another run at the title.
Poirier went on to win 11 of his next 14 fights after moving up in weight to claim the Interim Lightweight title including the second encounter against McGregor.
Tim Kennedy v Yoel Romero
Yoel Romero burst into the UFC with four consecutive KO wins when he ran into Tim Kennedy at UFC 178.
The fight did not come without controversy, with the big Cuban clearly struggling after two intense rounds, he decided to an extended seat before the start of the third.
Romero then came out and demolished Kennedy at the start of the third.
Where Are They Now?
Romero went on to have four shots at winning the UFC Middleweight Championship but never received the belt.
He won his title fight against Luke Rockhold but was ineligible for the belt because he missed weight.
He went to war with Robert Whittaker twice and came up short on both occasions and then he controversially received a title shot against Israel Adesanya which he lost.
He is now signed with Bellator.
Tim Kennedy recently voiced his frustration on the Joe Rogan podcast at the extra time that Yoel received in that fight during the break in rounds, and even suggested it cost him a run at the title.
He fought once more, two years later. A loss to Kelvin Gastelum.
Cat Zingano v Amanda Nunes
Cat Zingano finished Amanda Nunes inside three rounds.
Yep. That happened.
It was the last time Amanda Nunes was beaten.
Where Are They Now?
Amanda Nunes has gone on to become the greatest women’s mixed martial artist in the history of the sport.
There is no arguing that now.
She won the Women’s Bantamweight title against Miesha Tate in 2016 and has now defended that title a record five times.
She has beaten every woman that has been Flyweight, Bantamweight and Featherweight champion.
And she was the first person to successfully defend two belts at the same time.
After this win Zingano went on to lose her next three straight against Ronda Rousey (in 14 seconds), Julianna Pena and Ketlan Vieira.
She now fights in Bellator where has won two from two.
OTHER FIGHTS ON THE CARD
Dominick Cruz v Takeya Mizugaki
One of the greatest Bantamweight fighters of all time, Dominick Cruz, also made an appearance at UFC 178 when he beat Takeya Mizugaki inside one round.
This was a return fight for Cruz after almost three years away from the sport with injury.
Where Are They Now?
Cruz’s injuries would continue to halt his progress int he sport but he still managed to win the Bantamweight title back off T.J Dillashaw and defend it against Urijah Faber.
He returned in May of 2020 in a loss to Henry Cejudo for the Bantamweight strap and won his last fight in a split decision over Casey Kenney..
Mizugaki went on the lose six of his next nine fights and finished his career in RIZIN in 2019.
Jorge Masvidal v James Klause
The ‘Baddest Motherf*cker’ on the planet Jorge Masvidal defeated James Krause via a unanimous decision on this card also.
This was a very close fight with Masvidal’s two take downs proving the difference.
Where Are They Now?
It took a long time for Masvidal’s star to shine through but once it did, he shot to a level within the UFC promotion that was only matched by McGregor and Rousey.
His recent run against Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz gained him many fans and his PPV numbers shot through the roof especially after his record win against Ben Askren (the quickest KO in UFC history).
He has since lost back to back title fights against Kamaru Usman.
James Klause has forged a very successful career in the UFC as well, having won seven of his next nine fights since UFC 178.
Stephen Thompson v Patrick Cote
Wonderboy Thompson headed into his fight at UFC 178 with four wins from five fights inside the UFC promotion.
It was not a dominant performance by Thompson but he did enough to win a unanimous decision.
Where Are They Now?
Wonderboy went on to win his next three fights to set up a title fight against Tyron Woodley at UFC 205.
That fight ended in a majority draw and he lost the rematch by majority decision.
He has won his last two in a row, the latest won him performance of the night in a unanimous decision win over Geoff Neal and takes on Gilbert Burns as the Co-Main Event at UFC 264.
Canadian Patrick Cote won three of his next five fights, retiring from the sport after consecutive losses to Cowboy Cerrone and Thiago Alves.
Jon Tuck v Kevin Lee
Kevin Lee was having just his third fight in the UFC when he beat Jon Tuck via a unanimous decision on the early prelims of UFC 178.
Where Are They Now?
Lee won seven of his next eight fights setting up an UFC Interim title fight against Tony Ferguson.
He lost that fight via submission and has since gone on to win just two of his last five.
Jon Tuck won just two of his next five in the UFC and his last fight was a first round KO win in Bellator/RIZIN in December 2019.