Michael Chandler thinks Justin Gaethje exacts his revenge against Dustin Poirier.
Poirier (29-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) and Gaethje (24-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will run things back for the “BMF” title in Saturday’s UFC 291 headliner at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Poirier finished Gaethje by Round 4 TKO in their Fight of the Year war in 2018. But, Chandler thinks Gaethje’s more technical version, which he displayed against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286, will help him prevail against Poirier.
“I think you’re going to see a more composed Justin Gaethje,” Chandler said on his YouTube channel. “My prediction is Justin Gaethje wins via decision similar to what we saw in him vs. Tony Ferguson. Obviously, we know he finished Tony Ferguson late in the fight. I don’t think he finishes Poirier, but I do think he beats him with output. I think he beats him by not being taken down. I think he beats him by those leg kicks.”
Chandler suffered recent setbacks to both, so has extra insight on where both fighters excel. He sees a key advantage for both Poirier and Gaethje.
“As far as power, people ask me, ‘Who’s the hardest puncher that you’ve ever been hit by?” Chandler said. “Dustin Poirier. Dustin Poirier broke my nose in the fight. Every single shot was a thud. Go watch his training on Instagram. His bag work, when you watch the way that his hips, his feet, his shoulders, his core, everything turns on every single punch when he’s doing that bag work.
“That’s where he generates all of his power. Justin Gaethje has the speed advantage, but he kind of just throws those things as fast as he can, hopes they land, and when they do land they hurt. But they’re less of a thud than Dustin Poirier’s. The power lends itself toward Poirier, but the speed lends itself to Justin Gaethje.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.
