Jon Anik: Dustin Poirier can now not be counted out at UFC 302, however Islam Makhachev ‘indubitably is that true’

Jon Anik sees Dustin Poirier as a live underdog, however he understands why oddsmakers sway heavily in desire of UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.

Per BetMGM, Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is a -600 popular in his upcoming title defense against Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 302 (pay-per-gape/ESPN2/ESPN+) well-known tournament at Prudential Heart in Newark, N.J. Poirier is a +425 underdog.

“I’m gay I’m now not an oddsmaker because I’d catch it exceedingly onerous to designate Islam Makhachev true now because he indubitably is that true,” Anik talked about in an interview with Odds Shark. “I’m in a position to know why so much of the fanbase and so much of the fighters relish Dustin Poirier in this space. I relish the fast turnaround having confronted Benoit Saint Denis in a truly enormous tension space.

“Now now not a title war in spite of the whole lot, however at UFC 299 in Miami, he became a making a guess underdog in that atmosphere. I relish that this war is going on in Unusual Jersey, it’s in his time zone, it’s terminate to home, I relish the competitors cycle. He became largely unscratched even if it wasn’t a most arresting performance against Benoit Saint Denis, and he does personal worthy extra skills accumulated over the closing a lot of years.”

Anik also admires the come Poirier has bounced abet from prior losses. “The Diamond” has by no contrivance misplaced two straight in his profession.

“Whenever you peer abet on the war against Khabib Nurmagomedov and we would maybe spend 10 minutes on how that non-public may maybe play into this war against Islam Makhachev, however then so responsive thereafter against Dan Hooker, then two wins against Conor McGregor,” Anik talked about. “I mediate that Poirier goes to impact properly. I mediate the topic may maybe most arresting be the fellow that is in the crimson corner.”

Anik sees one well-known advantage that stands out for Poirier, however points to his old two title losses, which came by submission as pertaining to points. He thinks Poirier has to capitalize on the feet early.

“I mediate pure strength and I hiss that with all due respect to Islam Makhachev,” Anik talked about of Poirier’s advantage. “Makhachev is a 5-instrument striker, completely his head kick of Alexander Volkanovski speaks to most arresting what number of different suggestions he may maybe earn you out of there. He’s completely now not most arresting a grappler. Nonetheless Dustin Poirier out of that southpaw stance has so much of strength, completely in that true hand however also in the left hand, as properly. And I most arresting mediate it’s about anxiety mitigation for him. When are you going to head for it, rob your spots, strive to defend far from the floor.

“These grappling cases against Khabib Nurmagomedov weren’t ultimate, and I mediate when so much of of us handicap this war, they distress about Dustin Poirier getting build in these a similar cases and time ripping off of the clock. It’s advantage striker in relation to MMA and Joe Rogan talked about this now not too long previously, they allow you to face up before the whole lot of every round, so I invent mediate that it stands to motive that if Dustin Poirier can save respect with that strength early on and up to the moment some derive of adversity.”

For extra on the cardboard, talk over with MMA Junkie’s tournament hub for UFC 302.