TUF Nations Finale results, photos: Dustin Poirier stops Akira Corassani in thriller

QUEBEC CITY – After an intense weigh-in staredown that ended in a shove, Dustin Poirier and Akira Corrasani wasted no time picking up where they left off at the start of Wednesday’s fight, throwing caution to the wind as they slugged it out for a memorable first round before Poirier took over in the second, forcing a TKO stoppage at 0:42 of Round 2.

The featherweight bout opened up the main card of today’s TUF Nations Finale event at Colisee Pepsi in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It aired on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Poirier looked like he might be primed for an upset early on in this fight. Corrasani stung him with a left hook that left his legs wobbly in the first round, but after taking a moment to recover Poirier came right back for more. After a choke attempt by Poirier failed to solicit a tap, the two fighters ended the first round as they’d started it, slugging it out with little regard for their own safety.

That battle resumed right away in the second, only this time it was Poirier who landed the decisive blow. An uppercut sent Corrasani’s head snapping back, and when Poirier pressed him he collapsed against the fence, covering up and waiting for the stoppage as Poirier poured it on.

“I’m not here to pick fights,” Poirier told UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik after the win. “My job is to fight. When these guys tell me who I’m fighting, I lace up my gloves and I go to work.”

Poirier (16-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) has now won three straight in the UFC. Corassani (12-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) loses for the first time since 2011.

Up-to-the-minute TUF Nations Finale results include:

• Dustin Poirier def. Akira Corassani via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:42
• K.J. Noons def. Sam Stout via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:30
• Sarah Kaufman def. Leslie Smith via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Ryan Jimmo def. Sean O’Connell via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:27
• George Roop def. Dustin Kimura via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-26)
• Mark Bocek def. Mike De La Torre via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Nordine Taleb def. Vik Grujic via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Richard Walsh def. Chris Indich via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Mitch Gagnon def. Tim Gorman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

For complete coverage of the TUF Nations Finale, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

Mike Bohn contributed to this report on-site in Quebec City.