Jon Anik sees Dustin Poirier as a dwell underdog, however he understands why oddsmakers sway closely in favor of UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev.
In response to BetMGM, Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is a -600 favourite in his upcoming title protection towards Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 302 (pay-per-view/ESPN2/ESPN+) major occasion at Prudential Heart in Newark, N.J. Poirier is a +425 underdog.
“I’m glad I’m not an oddsmaker as a result of I might discover it exceedingly laborious to cost Islam Makhachev proper now as a result of he actually is that good,” Anik stated in an interview with Odds Shark. “I can perceive why a variety of the fanbase and a variety of the fighters like Dustin Poirier on this spot. I like the short turnaround having confronted Benoit Saint Denis in a extremely huge strain spot.
“Not a title struggle after all, however at UFC 299 in Miami, he was a betting underdog in that setting. I like that this struggle is going on in New Jersey, it’s in his time zone, it’s near dwelling, I just like the competitors cycle. He was largely unscratched regardless that it wasn’t an ideal efficiency towards Benoit Saint Denis, and he does have much more expertise accrued during the last a number of years.”
Anik additionally admires the best way Poirier has bounced again from prior losses. “The Diamond” has by no means misplaced two straight in his profession.
“While you look again on the struggle towards Khabib Nurmagomedov and we may spend 10 minutes on how that have would possibly play into this struggle towards Islam Makhachev, however then so responsive thereafter towards Dan Hooker, then two wins towards Conor McGregor,” Anik stated. “I believe that Poirier goes to carry out effectively. I believe the issue would possibly simply be the man that’s within the purple nook.”
Anik sees one main benefit that stands out for Poirier, however factors to his earlier two title losses, which got here by submission as regarding factors. He thinks Poirier has to capitalize on the ft early.
“I believe pure energy and I say that with all due respect to Islam Makhachev,” Anik stated of Poirier’s benefit. “Makhachev is a five-tool striker, definitely his head kick of Alexander Volkanovski speaks to simply what number of alternative ways he may get you out of there. He’s definitely not only a grappler. However Dustin Poirier out of that southpaw stance has a variety of energy, definitely in that proper hand but in addition within the left hand, as effectively. And I simply suppose it’s about threat mitigation for him. When are you going to go for it, decide your spots, attempt to keep away from the bottom.
“These grappling conditions towards Khabib Nurmagomedov weren’t very best, and I believe when lots of people handicap this struggle, they fear about Dustin Poirier getting put in these related conditions and time ripping off of the clock. It’s benefit striker with regards to MMA and Joe Rogan talked about this just lately, they assist you to rise up initially of each spherical, so I do suppose that it stands to cause that if Dustin Poirier can achieve respect with that energy early on and current some type of adversity.”
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