UFC 257: Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor Preview, Odds, Prediction

The second match between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor is the main event at the UFC 257. These two guys will once again share the octagon, only this time they aren’t beginners, but high-profile names, former champions, and contenders for regaining the belt. The hype surrounding this match is huge, and we already have the entire sports community discussing the potential winner. Conor is the favorite, but so was Poirier in their first clash, and you all remember how that ended.

Preview

Poirier (+245) recovered from losing his interim belt and missing a chance to win the title against Khabib Nurmagomedov. The Diamond was more than confident against Dan Hooker, beating the rival after a unanimous decision. He was at his usual level against the Kiwi, outpunching him and delivering a lot of beating.

And that is his trademark, extremely tough knocks, terrifying combos, and unbelievable endurance during the same. Also, Poirier has one of the toughest chins in the lightweight division, sustaining, for example, Justin Gathje’s hits.

When looking at the last few years, Diamond’s resume is more than rich, as he beat the likes of the above-mentioned Gaethje, Anthony Pettis, Eddie Alvarez, Max Holloway. Since losing against Conor, Poirier recorded 10 victories and two defeats, becoming one of the best in the division, and winning the interim belt against Holloway at the UFC 236.

McGregor (-315) is the biggest showman in the division, and arguably the biggest face of the entire organization. Even though he had just three fights over the past four years, he is still the money and marketing magnet and the guy who creates unlimited hype regardless of his action.

But the Notorious is also one of the best fighters seen in the UFC. He was a two-division champion and the best stand-up boxer in the entire organization. When debating about the quickest puncher, there aren’t too many names besides his.

The Irishman’s movement and striking accuracy were unmatchable, and the question now is whether he still has it. Rare appearances in the ring might have left some trace on Conor, but we’ll see that on Saturday night.

Head to Head

Some six and a half years ago, Poirier and Mcgregor met at the UFC 178. Both were featherweights at the time, with Poirier coming into that bout as the favorite and the more experienced fighter.

Conor’s strong left hand hit Poirier in his ear, dropping him down to the canvas immediately. After a brief flurry of punches, the judge in the ring stepped up to stop the match. The legend of the Notorious was born in that fight. Following this one, he quickly conquered the UFC.

Prediction

Even though Poirier is an underdog here, our hunch tells us that he comes into this event in much better shape without any ring rust, and much more focused than Conor. The Diamond has a huge motive to avenge his defeat from 2014, and now he won’t make the same mistake as back then, once allowing the Irishman to get into his head. The odds are high (+245) and are worth risking.