CONOR MCGREGOR was guilty of 'overlooking' Dustin Poirier before their rematch earlier this year, according to UFC president Dana White.

The former two-division champion suffered a brutal second-round KO loss to his old featherweight rival in January in the main event of UFC 257.

Despite opting not to trash talk his former opponent, McGregor went into his long-awaited return to the lightweight division confident of a quick KO.

And White believes his underestimation of Poirier ultimately ended up being his downfall.

He told BT Sport: "I don't think there has to be trash talk or any of that stuff.

"I think, and I don't know if this is true, I mean only Conor can answer this question.

"I think Conor was overlooking Dustin and like, 'Let me just get through this and onto other things.'"

McGregor recently vowed to return to his abrasive ways ahead of his trilogy fight with The Diamond, telling his legion of followers: "No more Mr Nice Guy."

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White is uncertain what McGregor will turn up to face fan favourite Poirier, saying: "I don't know."

But the veteran promoter is expecting The Notorious not to underestimate the pride of Louisiana again.

He said: "I think Conor will take this fight way more serious than he took the last one."

McGregor is champing at the bit to share the cage with Poirier again and has vowed to nullify his fellow 32-year-old's fight-changing calf kicks.

SBG Ireland chief John Kavanagh believes the Dubliner already has a better handle on the strikes, telling BT Sport: "We want to get that one back.

"We've got to figure out these friggin' calf kicks. How to use them and to defend them.

"We're pretty confident we have that sorted out now."

Defeat in his summer rubber match with Poirier would end McGregor's hopes of fighting for the lightweight title in the near future.

But Mystic Mac is relishing the high-stakes match-up, saying: "One a piece now with a trilogy bout for all the marbles! Wow! Exciting!

“Not a trilogy I was expecting, nor the tactical affair I was anticipating, but I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t meant to be.

“This is exactly how this was always meant to be! Buzzing!!”

The third instalment of McGregor vs Poirier is in the works for the summer and is likely to be held in July or August.

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