10 best Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier 3 predictions so far

Conor McGregor's upcoming trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 is currently the talk of the town in combat sports. The promotion is also marketing the event as the biggest pay-per-view of the year, which should tell you a lot about the hype behind the fight.

Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier have knocked each other out in their two previous meetings and are set to clash for all the marbles on July 10. The winner of the fight will also be the next contender for the UFC lightweight title. As the bout approaches, many MMA analysts, commentators, fighters, and even fans are breaking down and predicting the outcome of the trilogy fight.

Next stop...💎@DustinPoirier 🆚 @TheNotoriousMMA 🇮🇪 3🎰 T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas🔥 For all the marbles#UFC264 | July 10 | BT Sport Box Office pic.twitter.com/VcLA6fepBE

— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) June 28, 2021

While some believe Conor McGregor will avenge the first-ever knockout loss of his career, which came at the hands of Poirier, others feel that 'The Diamond' will once again finish the Irishman. In this article, we will look at some of the best breakdowns and predictions for the upcoming trilogy fight.

10) Chael Sonnen (Prediction - Dustin Poirier wins)

Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen recently weighed in on the outcome of the trilogy fight between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. According to Sonnen, Poirier remains the favorite to win the fight against McGregor. Speaking to ESPN's Joe Fortenbaugh and Tyler Fulghum, Sonnen claimed he isn't happy with the way McGregor has prepared for the fight and that the Irishman is likely to go down again.

"I'm actually picking Poirier in this. I don't love the way Conor's prepared. I don't love that he's not doing media. I know it's designed to look at though he's a little bit for more focused. Look, there's something you get when you're beating your chest and screaming from the rooftops your the best in the world. It's not to get in your opponents' heads, it's to convince yourself."

Having said that, Sonnen claims that the only way McGregor can beat Dustin Poirier is if he can knock 'The Diamond' out in the first round with his signature straight-left. However, Sonnen feels it will be very difficult to pull it off against Poirier because after fighting McGregor twice, the Louisiana native will be aware of the Irishman's tendencies.

"Not only does Conor need to win in the first round, he needs to win with a knockout which is used primarily with his left hand. He also only sets the left hand up one way, he waits for you to throw, he rolls, he comes back. It's a great attack but over time guys have learnt. Particularly an opponent like Dustin, who's already been in there with him twice."

#RT @espn: Bet. is back! @JoeFortenbaugh and @Tyler_Fulghum welcome in @ChaelSonnen to break down the July 10 fight between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, and @NotoriousOHM is back to talk everything Suns vs. Clippers! https://t.co/h6XFENzKpv

— Serious Tattoo Fan (@TattooRemovalSG) June 30, 2021

9) Marvin Vettori (Prediction - Dustin Poirier wins)

'The Italian Dream' Marvin Vettori claims Dustin Poirier will once again have his hand raised at UFC 264. In an exclusive interaction with Sportskeeda MMA, Vettori claimed McGregor is already one step behind Dustin Poirier, having to work on his errors from their previous fight.

According to Vettori, while the Irishman irons out his errors from the last fight, Poirier will be working on something new to surprise McGregor in the trilogy fight.

"Whenever you're working on a mistake that you made in the fight before for the next fight, you're a step behind. And by the time you've worked on that, you're a step behind and this guy's (Poirier) been working on the next thing," Marvin Vettori told Sportskeeda's Andy Whitelaw.

8) Paulie Malignaggi (Prediction - Dustin Poirier wins)

It's no secret that Paulie Malignaggi isn't fond of Conor McGregor. He was brought in as a sparring partner for the Irishman ahead of his fight against Floyd Mayweather in 2017. After McGregor's camp released footage showing the Irishman knocking down Malignaggi in training, the pair engaged in bitter exchanges on social media.

In a recent interaction with Helen Yee, Malignaggi said Dustin Poirier is likely to beat McGregor at UFC 264.

"I think he's [Conor McGregor] is probably going to get his a-- kicked [by Dustin Poirier] again, to be honest. But that's okay because they [the fans] will tell you that he wasn't focused again, they'll tell you it's because he just sold his whiskey for $600 million. Conor has really built a reputation...the pinata himself... you get a prize for beating him up."

7) Dan Hooker (Prediction - Dustin Poirier wins)

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker has picked his former opponent Dustin Poirier to clinch the trilogy fight with McGregor. According to Hooker, Conor McGregor has many adjustments to make from the previous fight and very little time to do so. In an interaction with Sportskeeda MMA's John Hyon Ko, Hooker said:

"Conor McGregor's the guy that has to make the adjustments. Poirier kind of figured him out with that low calf kick. Weathering that early storm, surviving that early storm and then coming with that low calf kick. It's like Conor McGregor needs to make the adjustment."

"I just don't think that that's enough time to make the adjustment," said Hooker. "Like after he got knocked out he would've had to have a fair bit of time off... I just don't feel like he's had that much time in the gym to make the necessary adjustments."

"It's not as simple as 'aw I'll just pick my leg up and turn.' He's got to adjust his whole stance. I would say adjusting your stance is the hardest thing a fighter can do. You can pick up new techniques, but adjusting your stance. Conor McGregor has always been southpaw, he's always been like super side on and always has his left hand super low."

6) Artem Lobov (Prediction - Conor McGregor wins)

Conor McGregor's former teammate Artem Lobov backs the Irishman to pull off a stunning knockout victory in the trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. Speaking to BJPenn.com, Artem Lobov claimed McGregor lost the last fight because he didn't give his opponent the respect he deserves and was more worried about preparing for a potential boxing match with Manny Pacquiao instead.

Lobov believes McGregor is now aware of the threat Poirier poses and will fight accordingly, earning himself a first-round KO win in the process.

“To be honest with you, if you look at the second fight, it was developing how the first fight went. That is what I expected…The only thing that made a difference were the leg kicks. It wasn’t like he wasn’t training to defend leg kicks, but those kicks are very unique. When you spar in training and you wear shin pads you don’t feel those kicks and you lift your leg to check. However, in the fight, that doesn’t work anymore. Conor is now aware of that and I see the fight going how it already was going and the way the first fight went and I see Conor stopping Dustin early in this fight, I see Conor stopping Dustin in the first round,” said Lobov.

5) Javier Mendez (Prediction - Dustin Poirier wins)

AKA head coach Javier Mendez picks Dustin Poirier to beat Conor McGregor at UFC 264. That's not just because Poirier is the better fighter. Mendez dislikes McGregor and doesn't want to see him win. Mendez coached McGregor's biggest rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and doesn't share a good relationship with the Irishman.

In a recent interview on the Real Quick with Mike Swick podcast, Mendez said McGregor does have the skillset to beat Poirier in a trilogy fight, but he'd like to see 'The Diamond' win again.

"I definitely think he can do it," said Mendez. "Because I think the calf kicks were the deciding factor, and the second deciding factor was when Conor put a good one on Dustin, and Dustin took it. That's when he said, oh, I can take your shots. I'm a give you some of mine. I'm gonna go with Dustin because I like Dustin and I'm not a fan of Conor. I can never be a fan of Conor. I'm never a fan of his, never. I never want him to win so it is what it is. He doesn't want my guys to win I don't want him to win. Tough, it is what it is. I'm going with Dustin. A lot because I think he can do it. But also because I don't like the other guy."

4) Mike Perry (Prediction - Dustin Poirier wins)

UFC welterweight Mike Perry backs Poirier to once again finish Conor McGregor at UFC 264. He claimed the Irishman's superior movement has waned over the years and that the fight will likely end up the same way as it did the last time. Perry also said that McGregor would likely never become champion again.

In an interaction with Helen Yee, Perry said:

"That's a great fight. Man, I definitely think Dustin showed a lot last fight and I see him maintaining that and Conor getting tired again. I'm sure he [Conor] is training and all of this, but I don't know what he's going to focus on, the calf kicks aren't that big of a deal. We'll see. His old way of fighting, I saw videos of where, like, you know, he was against Jose [Aldo] and the way that he moved, but he was also 10 pounds lighter at featherweight. I mean, we're going to rock with USA on that one and South Florida, that's Dustin Poirier, I think he gets it done in the trilogy."

"I think that the imaginative idea of Conor McGregor coming back, beating Dustin then becoming champion again over Oliveira, I don't think he lands that shot on Oliveira, man. So, I don't think that imaginative idea of him being as great as he once was again comes out. He's made too much, he's done too well, and I guess there's a limit in this sport."

3) Sean O'Malley (Prediction - Conor McGregor wins)

Often tipped to become the next Conor McGregor, Sean O'Malley is rooting for the Irishman to beat Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Although he believes it will be a great fight and probably too close to call, O'Malley wants McGregor to win because he enjoys watching the Irishman fight.

He also stated that McGregor was doing well against Poirier the last time before his legs were damaged entirely by Poirier's calf kicks. In an interaction with Helen Yee, Sean O'Malley said:

"I haven't been able to really get a visual of how I see that fight playing out. You know, Conor Looked good in that fight. he looked fast, he looked focused, he looked sharp. Dustin landed the bigger shots and put his lights out but I don't think there's a lack of motivation from Conor. He looked good going into that fight and I'm a big fan of both of them. I'd like to see Conor win and see who he fights next."

2) Georges St-Pierre (Prediction - Conor McGregor wins)

While the odds look stacked against McGregor ahead of the trilogy fight, one of the greatest fighters on the planet believes he will get redemption against Poirier at UFC 264. In a video posted to Tristar Gym's YouTube channel, Georges St-Pierre predicted that McGregor is good in rematches and will get the job done on July 10.

GSP also gave his 'Mystic Mac' prediction for the fight, claiming McGregor will win via knockout in the second round.

“I think McGregor is very good in rematches — and I think he’s going to have the victory. I think he’s probably going to win in the second round by knockout.”

1) Khabib Nurmagomedov (Prediction - Dustin Poirier wins)

McGregor's bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov believes Poirier has a better chance of winning at UFC 264. Nurmagomedov has beaten both in the past and knows each man's strengths and weaknesses.

According to Khabib, McGregor's chances of winning are slim because he must get the job done inside one round. The longer the fight goes on, Poirier is likely to dominate proceedings.

"Like I said before, I think if it goes past the first round, well I think McGregor takes the first round. If it goes past the first, it's Poirier's," said Khabib.