Dustin Poirier favors Conor McGregor over Michael Chandler in upcoming UFC 303 main event

Dustin Poirier knows a few things about Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler having beaten both UFC stars.

While Poirier goes for the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev Saturday at UFC 302, McGregor and Chandler square off at 170 pounds in the main event of UFC 303. Poirier owns two wins in three matchups with McGregor and also submitted Chandler in the two’s previous fight.

McGregor and Chandler both have had long layoffs and last were in action against Poirier. So, “Diamond” gave his prediction for June 29.

“Yeah, both of those guys’ last fight was me,” Poirier said on First Take. “And even Chandler has had a little bit of a layoff …  From my experience of being in there with them and just knowing the sport, if Conor is anywhere similar to where he was before the injury with his timing, with his accuracy, the stylistic matchup with Michael Chandler, I think he clips him. 

“Chandler covers too much distance, not properly, not the best footwork, lunging in with shots and that’s how you get countered. That’s how you if Connor is the matador and has the same timing and pop that he had before the injury. Connor is going to stop this guy.”

Conor McGregor favored over Michael Chandler?

There’s been a lot of talk and theories about McGregor-Chandler after the two were on last summer’s The Ultimate Fighter. Now that the fight is official, Poirier was asked who needed it more. He landed on Chandler.

“That’s a tough question. Conor’s ego might need it. But financially, business side of it, he doesn’t need it. Chandler I can’t say. I’m not sure. But Chandler is also a fighter who’s been around a little while, been in a lot of wars. I don’t know, I’m not counting the man’s pocket but I’m not sure if he’s ever been in a position to make this kind of life changing money that he’s about to be when he fights Conor McGregor, so he might need this more than Conor does. 

“Conor still, with this layoff, is the biggest name in the sport. Every headline ‘when he’s coming back,’ every news article. It’s an event, it’s not just a fight. It’s a spectacle. The whole world is gonna watch so Chandler can really boost his star power. Anything he’s attached to business wise, athletics wise, it’s gonna grow … So you go out there and beat a guy like that, it’s life changing.”

There’s no question McGregor doesn’t need the money compared to Chandler. Of course, Chandler’s made a nice life for himself as well, but that’s been the general consensus of McGregor, who’s one of the richest athletes on Earth.

Due to McGregor’s recovery from a broken leg in his third fight with Poirier, there was no timetable for a return.

That was back in 2021 and McGregor left Chandler waiting and waiting. Not to mention McGregor starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in a reimagining of Road House.

But come June 29, the two will finally meet in the octagon, perhaps with McGregor beating Chandler as Poirier predicted.