By Lourence Alturino
Image from UFC
The time is now. Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 3. McGregor won the first fight. Poirier won the second. Both fights ended via knockout. This is one of the biggest trilogies in UFC history. Two of the greatest fighters in the world finish their trilogy tomorrow night. Who finishes the 3rd fight with a victory and have an opportunity at the 155 belt?
Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier
In my opinion, Poirier is the best lightweight in the world and he's not even the champion. Dustin has a record of 27-6 with 10 KO's. His most recent victory came on January 23rd and he knocked out none other than, Conor McGregor. Poirier abused Conor's leg with calf kicks and landed some big shots in the second round, which led to his victory. Can he repeat what he did earlier this year and finish McGregor?
"The Notorious" Conor McGregor
The most popular UFC fighter of all time. Conor has a record of 22-5 with 8 KO's. McGregor did get the KO victory in the first fight with Poirier, but that was almost 7 years ago. A lot of people like myself actually gave Conor the first round in the second fight. Conor did land some big shots, but the biggest problem was his stance and lack of game plan. He was underestimating Dustin and already looking at the Manny Pacquiao fight, which wont't be happening anymore. Conor came in with a boxing like stance with all the weight on the lead foot. That is why Dustin's calf kicks were so successful. Conor needs to go back to his old stance and be light on his feet to win this fight? Can he defeat Poirier again and get another championship opportunity?
Keys for Poirier
- Go for takedowns
- Be patient and counter
- Don't expect the same Conor from the last fight
Keys for McGregor
- Use old stance and avoid calf kicks
- Use more head movement
- Let Dustin attack and counter
Final Predictions
If this fight ends early, McGregor wins. If it lasts longer than the first 2 rounds, Poirier wins. Conor needs to make the adjustments and win this fight. If Conor loses, his legacy depletes more and more. Losing 2 fights in a row to the same guy is not going to be good for a guy like McGregor. The ultimate money machine could die down, especially if Dustin finishes him. Dustin also needs this to get that title opportunity with Oliveira. I believe Dustin is the best 155er in the world, but he needs the championship belt to prove that to everyone else. This is Conor's do or die fight, so he is a man on a mission. Dustin also has an agenda, he wants to prove that he is the best in the 155 division. I predict Dustin Poirier will win this fight via unanimous decision. As great as Conor is, Poirier is on another level and he will win on Saturday.
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