With the highly-anticipated UFC 303 just around the corner, former foes Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler are set to collide in a welterweight showdown. However, it’s another familiar face who has weighed in with a decisive prediction: Dustin Poirier.
Poirier, who holds a solid record against both Conor McGregor and Chandler, has over 20 minutes of fight time against these two fighters. His first bout against McGregor in 2014 resulted in a loss, but he later avenged it with back-to-back TKO victories in 2021. In 2022, Poirier submitted Chandler in a fight-of-the-night contender at UFC 281.
Now, as Conor McGregor returns to the Octagon after his heartbreaking leg injury suffered against Poirier at UFC 264, Poirier believes that if McGregor comes back anywhere close to his pre-injury form in terms of timing and movement, he will knock Michael Chandler out.
Dustin Poirier predicts Conor McGregor will knock out Michael Chandler at #UFC303, and says he will be in attendance for the bout
“I think if Conor comes back anywhere similar to where he was before the injury, timing wise and movement wise, I think he’s gonna knock Michael… pic.twitter.com/ZDtOupvqj0
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 28, 2024
Dustin Poirier Opens Up on Conor McGregor Vs Michael Chandler
Poirier considers this a bad matchup for Chandler, emphasizing that the former Bellator champion is hittable and that McGregor’s length and counter-striking abilities could be decisive.
“I think if Conor comes back anywhere similar to where he was before the injury, timing wise and movement wise, I think he’s gonna knock Michael Chandler out. It’s just a bad matchup for Chandler.”
As the MMA world eagerly awaits UFC 303, the clash between McGregor and Chandler promises fireworks. Whether Poirier’s prediction holds true or not, fight fans can expect an intense battle between two elite fighters in the welterweight division.