Footage shows how close Dan Hooker came to derailing Conor McGregor’s career-changing rematch against Dustin Poirier.

Dan Hooker was seconds away from beating Dustin Poirier and changing the course of Conor McGregor’s career in June 2020.

“Notorious” suffered his first knockout loss when he faced Poirier, who he previously stopped in two minutes, at UFC 257 in January 2021.

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It ended up being a career-changing fight for McGregor as he lost a crossover boxing match with Manny Pacquiao before being forced into a trilogy fight against Poirier.

The Irishman broke his leg at UFC 264 in July 2021, and almost three years later, he has yet to return to fighting – but he is scheduled to face Michael Chandler on June 29.

However, things could have been so different if Hooker had had a few more seconds to work in the second round of his exhilarating fight with Poirier.

Both men came out firing in what later became known as the 2020 Round of the Year, but it was Hooker who ended the ascendancy as he looked for a finish.

The New Zealander landed a flurry of punches that shook his opponent, who uncharacteristically shot for a takedown in the final minute of the second frame.

Hooker ended the grappling attempt and pushed Poirier toward the cage before landing several punches and two knees as the round ended.

As referee Herb Dean stepped in to separate the two lightweight contenders, Poirier placed his hands on his knees while UFC commentators speculated about his ability to continue competing in the third round.

Ultimately, the former UFC interim champion reestablished himself in his corner and outpointed Hooker in the later rounds to secure a massive decision victory.

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Famously, Poirier scored back-to-back Red Panty Nights victories over McGregor before failing in a title bid for Charles Oliveira and submitting Michael Chandler.

Poirier will attempt to become the undisputed lightweight champion at UFC 302 on Saturday night.

The 35-year-old will be hoping it will be a third chance when he faces Islam Makhachev after previously coming off submission defeats in title fights against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Oliveira.

Regardless of his past failures, Poirier is extremely confident in his ability to end Makhachev’s reign as champion at the Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey.

“I’m going to knock him out and the ref is going to take me off him,” he said in an interview with Yahoo Sports.

If Poirier’s prediction comes true, it would be a huge upset as bookmakers have him rated at 4/1 just to beat Makhachev this weekend.