Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor face off on Saturday in the main event of UFC 264 in a lightweight showdown at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
This is the third time these two guys have faced off. Back in September of 2014, McGregor won by knockout, but in the last fight in January of 2021, it was Poirier who won in the second round by knockout.
Conor McGregor comes into this fight with a 22-5 record overall but over his last three fights he has two losses. The one win during that stretch was against Donald Cerrone by knockout. McGregor overall in his career is averaging 5.32 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 4.54 significant strikes per minute. McGregor usually likes to keep the fight on the feet, but he is averaging 0.79 takedowns every 15 minutes, and he is successful on 55 percent of his takedown attempts. McGregor still has that knockout power and he needs to use his power in his fight. McGregor also can’t get too cocky early in this fight, because that has gotten him in trouble more often the last few fights.
On the other side of this fight is Dustin Poirier who comes into this fight with a 27-6 record overall and he has won six of his last seven fights. Poirier’s only loss came against Khabib Nurmagomedov three fights ago. Poirier during his career is averaging 5.59 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 4.17 significant strikes per minute. Poirier is averaging 1.47 takedowns every 15 minutes, and he is successful on 36 percent of his attempts. In the last fight against McGregor, Poirier had one takedown, and htis will probably be a tactic he tries to use in this fight again.
McGregor is going to be a popular pick in this fight, but the play is Poirier as a slight favorite. Poirier is going to avoid the power of McGregor, and he instead is going to control the fight from the start. Look for Poirier to win this fight on the money line.
AUTHOR: Shane Mickle
