The attention of the entire MMA world will be focused on the
Octagon this Saturday when Conor
McGregor faces Dustin
Poirier in one of the most highly-anticipated rubber matches in
UFC history.
The fact that Mcgregor beat Poirier via technical knockout in their
first encounter in the featherweight division at UFC 178 in 2014
and the American have won the second encounter seven years later at
UFC 257 has made that third fight even more intriguing.
Bellator featherweight champ Patricio
Freire, who is in the midst of preparations to defend his belt
against A.J. McKee on
July 31, believes McGregor’s superior technique will be a key
factor in the fight.
“McGregor is good at revenge. Actually, he was winning the first
fight [before the finish],” Freire said. “Conor may talk a lot of
s—t, but he is much more technical than Poirier. I think he will
come more prepared this time and win decisively.
Meanwhile, UFC lightweight champion Charles
Oliveira might have the most interest of anyone in the
UFC 264 main event. “Do Bronx” is coming from Brazil with his
coach, Diego Lima, and will have a front row seat for the
Saturday’s trilogy fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Oliveira sees a different outcome than the one that Freire
predicts, however.
“I have no doubt it will be a tough fight like the first one. I see
McGregor dominating the first and second rounds, but Dustin
resisting and getting strong after the third,” Oliveira said. “I
believe Dustin has evolved more physically and mentaly and will win
again.”
As far as rooting interests go, the Brazilian champion can’t deny
that a title defense against the Irish star would be much more
lucrative.
“Of course Conor would bring much more money,” Oliviera said. “If I
could choose [an opponent], of course it would be him. But I´m
really not too concerned about that now. The most important thing
to me is to have a great camp and be healthy and ready to defend my
title. I´m sure It will be a war either against Conor or
Poirier.”