UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier is looking forward to a matchup between two of his former opponents as much as any fight fan. With Michael Chandler openly pushing for a matchup against former two-division champion and MMA superstar Conor McGregor, Poirier offered his prediction for the potential fight in an interview with Bloody Elbow.
“I would favor Conor. I think Chandler is very hittable, Conor’s timing. We’ll see with the layoff, too. Might be a big factor for Conor. But, yeah, I would pick Conor still in this one. Chandler’s hittable. Conor’s longer than him. Chandler slows down.
Poirier Picks McGregor To Defeat “Hittable” Chandler
You know if he does wrestle heavy to avoid the striking with Conor, he’s going to slow down a bit, and he’ll be more in front of Conor and able to get touched. I would put money on Conor if the fight happens. Not that I can; I can’t bet. I can’t bet MMA.”
Conor McGregor has not fought since July 2021, in a trilogy match against Poirier in which the Irish star sustained a broken leg. McGregor was sidelined by the injury, and in the time since has signed up to appear in a Jake Gyllenhaal-led remake of 1980s classic action flick Roadhouse.
Michael Chandler was a Bellator champion before moving to the UFC lightweight division, where he has featured in barnstorming bouts against Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Tony Ferguson, and former champion Charles Oliveira. Chandler has doubled down recently on his desire to face McGregor, even stating that he would be willing to fight “The Notorious” in a weight class above lightweight considering the considerable bulk added to McGregor’s frame during his time away from the Octagon.
While Poirier is 2-1 against Conor McGregor, it appears that “The Diamond” still rates his old foe’s skills highly. McGregor has not won a fight at lightweight since his 2016 title victory over Eddie Alvarez, and his sole victory since was at welterweight, against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. McGregor, in his lengthy absence from the Octagon, has long threatened to fight for a title once more, even claiming that he would move up to the welterweight division.
While McGregor’s legendary knockout power, which earned him nineteen knockout victories, does not seem to have deserted him just yet, his ability to finish durable fighters like Chandler, especially in a higher weight class, remains unproven.
Do you agree with Dustin Poirier’s prediction for Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler? Let us know in the comments.
