Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler stay on a collision course for June 29 at UFC 303, however the UFC 302 essential occasion may function a future matchup for both fighter.
Islam Makhachev defends his light-weight title in opposition to Dustin Poirier in a struggle the place the Dagestani mauler stays closely favored to win. Outdoors of the lone blemish on his résumé — a knockout loss to Adriano Martins again in 2015 — Makhachev hardly ever drops rounds, a lot much less permits his opponents a lot probability to beat him.
The percentages are stacked in opposition to Poirier, however McGregor believes his former foe has simply what it takes to drag off the upset and finish Makhachev’s title reign.
“I believe Dustin can do him,” McGregor mentioned throughout a latest Duelbits dwell stream. “I believe Dustin does him. Knocks him out.
“I believe the issues that Makhachev does flawed, the issues he’s not good at, he fumbles over his ft, normally early on and falls into pictures. He’s been knocked out by a again examine hook by a southpaw earlier than contained in the UFC. That’s one among Dustin’s greatest pictures. If Dustin’s ever going to do it, it’s going to be this time.”
Chandler has spent almost quarter-hour within the cage with Poirier as nicely, having engaged in bloody, back-and-forth battle again with him in 2022. That was truly Chandler’s most up-to-date UFC look previous to reserving the struggle in opposition to McGregor.
Chandler has plenty of respect for Poirier and takes no subject with him incomes a title shot off a single win over a prospect like Benoit Saint Denis regardless of getting knocked out by Justin Gaethje this previous July. That being mentioned, Chandler feels Makhachev’s wrestling and grappling negates what Poirier does so nicely on the ft, and that’s actually the distinction within the struggle.
“Good for Dustin,” Chandler instructed MMA Combating about Poirier getting the title shot. “Dustin’s completed all of it on this sport. He’s fought Conor twice. The one factor he hasn’t completed but is put on the UFC gold, and he desires to. I’m glad he acquired his shot. Truthfully, I hoped Gaethje was going to win and Gaethje was going to get the shot, as a result of I assumed Gaethje deserved it extra, clearly. I at all times needed to see Gaethje put on gold. If it wasn’t me, I needed to see Gaethje put on gold.
“Do I give [Poirier] an opportunity? Completely. [But] I believe Islam’s going to have his quantity. I believe Islam is simply higher in each space. I believe Islam finishes him, actually.”
Whereas McGregor sees Makhachev doubtlessly scuffling with a southpaw like Poirier, Chandler doesn’t suppose the struggle stays standing lengthy sufficient for that to matter.
He is aware of from his personal private expertise that Poirier doesn’t do very nicely in opposition to wrestling, and Makhachev can assault with a suffocating sport plan at UFC 302.
“Truthfully, Dustin concedes the takedown loads,” Chandler mentioned. “He was taken down in quite a few fights. I took him down, held him down all the second spherical. He’s not a tough man to take down. It’s not as a result of he’s not athletic and never sturdy. I believe he simply fights in a manner the place he’s very punch heavy, and when the shot is available in, he form of simply concedes to it and he seems like he’s going to scramble out of it. You’re not going to have the ability to do this in opposition to Islam.
“Islam is a human wrecking ball, blanket on prime of you too. Will probably be fascinating. Clearly, Dustin and I’ve some historical past, however I really like that he acquired the title shot.”
As for McGregor, he is aware of Poirier is much from infallible so he doesn’t low cost Makhachev including one other title protection to his accolades. McGregor simply believes Poirier has the proper recipe to provide Makhachev some issues, and that’s how he expects the struggle to play out.
“Clearly Dustin does his issues unhealthy additionally that feed into Makhachev’s strengths,” McGregor mentioned. “It’s going to be struggle, and let’s see which one reveals up. Nevertheless it’s all to play for. There is no such thing as a clear favourite in it.
“When you take a look at Dustin’s final struggle, he was getting manhandled by Benoit Saint Denis and he stayed with it and acquired again to his ft, stayed with it and landed a shot. That’s nice expertise to be going into this bout. If there’s ever an opportunity for him to get it completed, this will probably be it.”
After all, McGregor would love the prospect to run it again with Poirier once more, particularly after their final encounter ended with him struggling a grotesque damaged leg. He additionally has loads of historical past with Makhachev’s camp after his heated rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov, so McGregor actually wins both manner.
“Both/or,” McGregor mentioned of who he’d fairly struggle between UFC 302’s headliners. “I’ve historical past with each. Let’s see the way it goes.”
