On January 23rd, 2021, Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier will meet in the cage for the second time in their professional careers. At the main event of UFC 257, the lightweight contenders will battle for superiority on their paths back to a 155-pound title shot. Having won the first fight between the pair at UFC 178, many believe that the Notorious is the favorite to triumph in their upcoming highly-anticipated bout. However, few can argue that The Diamond hasn’t learned from his defeat to the Irishman back in September 2014. So, let’s consider whether Poirier is being overlooked ahead of UFC 257.
Poirier’s Record Showcases Undeniable Improvements
Following his loss to McGregor as a featherweight, the five-foot-nine American has reinvented himself as a lightweight. After being stopped by the Irishman in the first round of their initial match-up, Poirier has only lost twice since then. At UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson in September 2016, Michael Johnson knocked out The Diamond, before the Louisiana-born fighter suffered a third-round submission loss at the hands of Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, as per his official fight record.
Although he’s yet to get his hands on the lightweight belt, the former 155-pound interim champion has got several notable wins over elite competitors. To date, Poirier has beaten Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez, who previously held the division’s title, as well as Dan Hooker, Justin Gaethje, and Max Holloway.
By comparison, the Notorious has fought considerably less than the 31-year-old. Since defeating Poirier in 2014, McGregor has gone on to lift both the featherweight and lightweight belts, defeating Jose Aldo and Alvarez, respectively. However, in the past four years, the Irishman has only competed on five occasions. In that time, he has fallen to submission losses against both Nate Diaz and Nurmagomedov.
What’s the Significance of this Bout?
Irrespective of who triumphs on January 23rd, the importance of this clash is undeniable. Should McGregor walk away with his hand raised, then the UFC will likely look to book its best-selling competitor in a title fight. If Poirier wins, on the other hand, then it may springboard The Diamond to new levels of superstardom. Although this isn’t a guarantee, both Diaz and Nurmagomedov had their reputations enhanced following their victories over the 32-year-old.
For the fight game, contests such as that booked for UFC 257 play a pivotal role in building MMA. Following contributions from the likes of McGregor and Poirier, the sport has become one of the fastest-growing in the world. Interestingly, it’s a testament to MMA’s global progression that it’s now a go-to market on many sports betting platforms. At Barstool Sportsbook, which you can read about in an article published at BonusFinder, prospective bettors in Pennsylvania can utilize free cash and no-deposit promotions across a range of sports, including MMA. For example, through the operator, markets are open across various events, including McGregor vs. Poirier 2, in which the Notorious is currently a –225 favorite, as of December 3rd.
Fighting for a Title Shot and Redemption
For Poirier, this is more than just another bout. The opportunity to fight McGregor is something that will evade many fighters, but The Diamond has a rare chance to avenge his UFC 178 loss. Not only that, but should the American triumph, then it’ll be hard to deny him another shot at the 155-pound belt.