28 years in, MMA remains in a state of development, and the Calf Kick has surged to prominence over the past few years. There’s an old saying in boxing, kill the body and the head will die. MMA has a new saying. At UFC 257 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, Dustin Poirier killed Conor McGregor‘s calf, and then the head died.

You can watch it in super slow motion here:

Joe Rogan no longer calls overseas events, but he was watching. On a recent Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the host broke down what he saw.

The thing is [McGregor] is heavy on that front leg, wide karate stance, and he’s always doing this, said Rogan. When that leg is available for the low calf kick that changes everything, changes your whole approach, and Conor is also a guy never been known to switch back and forth. He doesn’t like to have his left leg forward, that’s not a common thing for him.

So, once his leg is getting chewed up, it’s not like he’s got that option, like he can fight just as good from orthodox.

At 145, Dustin was depleted and diminished. At 155? He’s f***ing huge. He doesn’t even look like a 55er. He looks like a 70; his back is f***ing gigantic. And look at Dustin’s series of victories, look at the people he beat. He beat the s*** out of Max Holloway. That’s crazy. 

He beat him with what Max Holloway’s best at, which is standup. You see what Max Holloway did to Calvin Kattar. Jesus Christ, Max Holloway’s standup is amazing.

The state of the UFC lightweight division is in flux, but right now, it looks like Poirier and McGregor will rematch this summer, without a title on the line. UG, how do you think the Poirier vs. McGregor trilogy goes?

h/t Dan Hiergesell for MMA Mania