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UFC 302 takes place Saturday, and Jon Litterine is back to break down the top fights, plus offer his DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
The most intriguing MMA bets, top DFS picks across multiple sites and predictions for this weekend's UFC 300 card are live before Saturday's event, courtesy of Chris Olson.
A monumental UFC 300 takes place Saturday, and Jon Litterine is back to break down the top fights, plus offer his DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
The UFC 299 expert picks are officially in. Check out how the RotoWire team of MMA contributors envisions every fight going down on Saturday's pay-per-view card.
The most intriguing MMA bets, top DFS picks across multiple sites and predictions for this weekend's UFC 299 card are live before Saturday's event, courtesy of Chris Olson.
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Given championship fight
Poirier will challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 302 in Newark on June 1, according to Andreas Hale of ESPN.com.
ANALYSIS
Poirier hopes the third time is the charm for his championship prospects. He got a taste of gold by defeating Max Holloway for an interim lightweight title back in April 2019. Unfortunately, the former submitted to Khabib Nurmagomedov during their undisputed championship fight later that year. After defeating Conor McGregor twice, Poirier had an opportunity to cap off what would have been a perfect 2021 against then-lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who submitted the American. This time around, The Diamond kept himself in title contention by finishing Michael Chandler and Benoit Saint-Denis.
Poirier hopes the third time is the charm for his championship prospects. He got a taste of gold by defeating Max Holloway for an interim lightweight title back in April 2019. Unfortunately, the former submitted to Khabib Nurmagomedov during their undisputed championship fight later that year. After defeating Conor McGregor twice, Poirier had an opportunity to cap off what would have been a perfect 2021 against then-lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who submitted the American. This time around, The Diamond kept himself in title contention by finishing Michael Chandler and Benoit Saint-Denis.
Trademark performance in win
Poirier defeated Benoit Saint-Denis via KO (punches) at 2:32 of Round 2 at UFC 299 on Saturday in Miami.
ANALYSIS
As we have seen time and time again, count Poirier out at your own peril. Dustin did not look good for the majority of this fight. He appeared tired, labored, and didn't hold up well under the constant pressure of Saint-Denis. He would land a couple blows here and there, but his main offensive actions consisted of going for guillotine chokes. None of them worked, and he was in all sorts of trouble after giving up his back early in Round 2. As we have seen time and time against from Poirier, however, Dustin worked his way back to his feet and eventually blasted Saint-Denis with two right hands which closed the show. Poirier is now 35 years old. He's understandably not on the same level as he was in his prime, but he's also still very clearly capable of performances such as this one. Dustin has alternated wins and losses in his past five fights. This particular one was awarded Fight of the Night honors, earning Poirier a $50,000 post-fight bonus.
As we have seen time and time again, count Poirier out at your own peril. Dustin did not look good for the majority of this fight. He appeared tired, labored, and didn't hold up well under the constant pressure of Saint-Denis. He would land a couple blows here and there, but his main offensive actions consisted of going for guillotine chokes. None of them worked, and he was in all sorts of trouble after giving up his back early in Round 2. As we have seen time and time against from Poirier, however, Dustin worked his way back to his feet and eventually blasted Saint-Denis with two right hands which closed the show. Poirier is now 35 years old. He's understandably not on the same level as he was in his prime, but he's also still very clearly capable of performances such as this one. Dustin has alternated wins and losses in his past five fights. This particular one was awarded Fight of the Night honors, earning Poirier a $50,000 post-fight bonus.
Saint-Denis bout still on tap
Poirier is scheduled to compete against Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299, per Nolan King of USA Today.
ANALYSIS
According to Poirier, he could not get a hold of his manager for a few days, which resulted in a miscommunication. Apparently, the Saint-Denis fight is still scheduled with a little over a month remaining until the Miami pay-per-view. Poirier will look to defend his top-five spot in the UFC's lightweight rankings and get back into championship contention.
According to Poirier, he could not get a hold of his manager for a few days, which resulted in a miscommunication. Apparently, the Saint-Denis fight is still scheduled with a little over a month remaining until the Miami pay-per-view. Poirier will look to defend his top-five spot in the UFC's lightweight rankings and get back into championship contention.
Not fighting Saint-Denis
Poirier is not fighting Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299, according to Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com.
ANALYSIS
Poirier recently posted on social media the words "fights off" to imply a bout against Saint-Denis was not happening. According to Poirier via Okamoto, there was no contractual agreement for the Saint-Denis fight at all. It seems that when UFC CEO Dana White announced the bout, they would come to terms afterward, but such has not been and seems like it will not be the case.
Poirier recently posted on social media the words "fights off" to imply a bout against Saint-Denis was not happening. According to Poirier via Okamoto, there was no contractual agreement for the Saint-Denis fight at all. It seems that when UFC CEO Dana White announced the bout, they would come to terms afterward, but such has not been and seems like it will not be the case.
Making return at UFC 299
Poirier is scheduled to face Benoit Saint-Denis in a lightweight matchup in the co-main event of UFC 299 on March 9 in Miami, UFC president Dana White announced Sunday via social media.
ANALYSIS
This will be the rare, five-round, non-title fight, as both men apparently requested this as part of negotiations. Poirier is coming off a tough loss to Justin Gaethje and has now lost two of his last three fights. He'll now be tasked with an up-and-comer in Saint-Denis, a younger fighter riding a five-fight winning streak who will have height and reach advantages. Both men are high-volume, accurate strikers, with Saint-Denis checking in with slightly better defensive marks. The one area where Saint-Denis separates himself is offensive wrestling, as he'll put his mark of 4.55 takedowns landed per 15 minutes against Poirier's 63 percent takedown defense.
This will be the rare, five-round, non-title fight, as both men apparently requested this as part of negotiations. Poirier is coming off a tough loss to Justin Gaethje and has now lost two of his last three fights. He'll now be tasked with an up-and-comer in Saint-Denis, a younger fighter riding a five-fight winning streak who will have height and reach advantages. Both men are high-volume, accurate strikers, with Saint-Denis checking in with slightly better defensive marks. The one area where Saint-Denis separates himself is offensive wrestling, as he'll put his mark of 4.55 takedowns landed per 15 minutes against Poirier's 63 percent takedown defense.