When Dustin Poirier admitted that Conor McGregor was the "biggest puncher" he'd ever faced: "He's a special individual for sure"

There is no love lost between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor, but that didn't stop 'The Diamond' from singling out the Irishman as the most powerful striker with whom he's had the pleasure of sharing the octagon. Poirier said as much during a near-three-year old sitdown with Valuetainment's Patrick Bet-David.

When asked by Bet-David about the most devastating puncher he's ever encountered in his long years of fighting, Poirier said:

"Conor McGregor, no doubt about it. As the biggest puncher I've fought? Yeah. He's a special individual for sure."

Bet-David, stunned by the answer, pressed Poirier for more details, asking him about both his featherweight and lightweight clashes with 'The Notorious.'

"Fought him in 2014, lost, and that was on his... you know when his trajectory was just... sky was the limit. He was on his way up, and he tore through everybody, became a two-weight world champion. And I fought him twice this year."

Check out Dustin Poirier's answer on the hardest puncher he's ever faced (0:26 and 0:39):

The two men have one of the most storied trilogies in UFC history. Their first bout, which took place at featherweight, did not go Poirier's way, as he was TKO'd in round one for his troubles. However, their rematches, which took place seven years later, went differently.

Poirier TKO'd McGregor in their first rematch, destabilizing his stance with calf kicks and countering him with check left hooks, while upsetting McGregor's timing by faking his shifting combinations. Their trilogy fight went disastrously for McGregor, who lost in the first round before snapping his shin.

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Dustin Poirier has fought countless different power-punchers

It's worth noting that Dustin Poirier answered the question about the hardest puncher he's ever faced before his war with Michael Chandler, who he defeated via third-round submission. Chandler is routinely ranked among the most powerful fighters in the lightweight division.

Check out the highlights from Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler:

'The Diamond' has also faced other knockout artists in Justin Gaethje, beating him once and losing to him in the rematch, with both fights ending with knockouts. He also famously lost to the heavy-handed Michael Johnson, and also clashed with Charles Oliveira, who is deceptively powerful, losing via submission.