Dustin Poirier appears on the UFC 322 essential occasion between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev with one main issue at play.
Della Maddalena defends his welterweight title for the primary time towards the previous light-weight champion within the headliner of the UFC’s return to Madison Sq. Backyard this Saturday. Poirier is kind of conversant in Makhachev after spending over 4 rounds within the octagon with him at UFC 302 in June 2024, the place “The Diamond” gave Makhachev one in every of his hardest fights so far, however ultimately dropping through submission within the fifth spherical.
Poirier, like a lot of the MMA neighborhood, is counting down the times to see if Della Maddalena might start his title reign by knocking off one of many sport’s pound-for-pound greatest, or if Makhachev can develop into a two-division champion.
“I’m excited for [Makhachev],” Poirier informed MMA Preventing. “He made historical past. He’s attempting to proceed making historical past. I’m going to be there in attendance with Bud Gentle for that occasion at Madison Sq. Backyard, so [I’m] excited to see that in individual.
“To choose a fighter on this one, I feel each guys are nice at sure issues. It’s all going to return right down to the takedown protection of JDM. If he can get again as much as his ft, if he can use the fence, or keep off the fence, use his boxing, I feel he positively might give Islam plenty of troubles within the middle of the octagon. He’s an awesome striker. He’s huge and highly effective.”
Della Maddalena captured the title with a Struggle of the Yr contending resolution win over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in Could. “JDM” is 8-0 within the UFC, and brings an unbelievable 18-fight win streak into the huge essential occasion.
Makhachev competes for the primary time after vacating the light-weight title for a brand new problem at welterweight. The 34-year-old has received 15 straight bouts, which incorporates 4 profitable light-weight title defenses. In his most up-to-date bout, Makhachev made fast work of quick discover challenger Renato Moicano at UFC 311 in January after Arman Tsarukyan was pulled from the occasion’s headliner the day earlier than.
After competing towards the man light-weight nice previously, Poirier has perception to what Makhachev brings to the desk when it comes to physicality — which is why Poirier doesn’t imagine Makhachev shall be giving up an excessive amount of dimension and power.
“Lots of occasions we take into consideration a light-weight going as much as welterweight — it’s a 15-pound weight distinction. However Islam shouldn’t be a small man. He’s not quick. I don’t know, possibly he’s 5’11”, and he’s huge. He’s an enormous man. It’s not like he’s having to placed on years of muscle to make this leap to the subsequent weight class, he’s a man who’s been holding his physique again from naturally being greater like he needs to be so he can compete within the light-weight division. He’s going to fill into this weight class, and he’s not going to appear to be a light-weight shifting as much as welterweight. He’s going to appear to be a stable welterweight in a title struggle.
“But it surely’s going to return right down to his skill to get takedowns and maintain JDM down. If JDM can get again up again and again and scramble, I feel he’s going to present Islam plenty of issues with the exchanges of boxing.”
