UFC 269: Dustin Poirier vs. Charles Oliveira for UFC Lightweight Title Writes Fight of the Year Everywhere | MMA News

UFC light heavyweight Paul Craig believes the lightweight title fight between Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 has “the fight of the year written all over it!” “

Oliveira will defend her UFC lightweight championship for the first time Sunday morning at UFC 269 against Poirier.

The champion won the belt at UFC 262, finishing former Bellator champion Michael Chandler in the second round after being almost stopped in the first, while Poirier comes into the fight after securing back-to-back wins over Conor McGregor.

UFC light heavyweight Paul Craig has spoken Air sports for a preview of the title fight on the latest organization map for 2021.

“There’s the fight of the year written all over it,” said the Scotsman.

He believes the contest will be an even more entertaining sight for fans than the UFC 268 lightweight bout between Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler, which saw ‘The Highlight’ emerge victorious after three action-packed rounds.

Oliveira is on a nine-game winning streak and hasn’t lost since 2017. Craig described the champion as a “jiu-jitsu wizard”, but noted that he had also developed a dangerous hitting game, demonstrating his ability to “beat and hammer people” in recent fighting.

The Brazilian’s skill on the pitch allows him to be a “dynamic striker because you don’t mind getting knocked out if you have jiu-jitsu like his.

“You see him playing in front of you, and he’s the champion for a reason – it’s a very tough fight for Poirier in my opinion.”

Craig considers the challenger a “boxing heavy dude who appreciates a low calf kick,” Poirier having made effective use of technique in his previous outings against McGregor earlier this year.

However, the light heavyweight warned that if Poirier attempted to stay outside, or at the boxing pit on Sunday morning, it would work in the champion’s favor.

Poirier’s path to victory should involve his cardio, suggests Craig, and “his ability to put people against the cage, make them make mistakes, drop those big shots and knock them out.

“If I were his coach, this is what I would say to him: lean on your cardio.”

Craig is touting the lightweight class as “the most exciting division in the UFC”, with Gaethje, Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev on the rise, all vying for future title fights, among several others. He also mentioned McGregor as a potential opponent for Poirier or Oliveira and raised the possibility of the Irishman switching weight classes.

“It doesn’t matter that he’s not good at jiu-jitsu. It doesn’t matter that we saw him beaten by Poirier. He has the ability to turn off someone’s lights all at once.

“Do I want to see him again at 170?” Yes, I want it !

“McGregor is the kind of guy where whatever his weight… he has the ability to attract attention.”

Ultimately, Craig predicts Oliveira’s victory over Poirier at UFC 269 and believes that the “champion’s remote management, having a [two inch] Achieving the advantage and mixing his kicks “in combination with his power to the ground will work to his advantage.

Despite this, the Scotsman believes Poirier’s cardio and heavy hands could pose a serious threat to “Do Bronx” if the fight reaches the final rounds, as “his power doesn’t seem to run out” throughout. a fight.

“As a fan, I want to see him do five laps!”