“I think he’s got a better mastery of range and striking, a better understanding of the application of martial arts and how to work somebody over psychologically as well.”
Former UFC analyst and commentator Dan Hardy thinks Conor McGregor is a ‘better martial artist’ than Dustin Poirier, labelling the Irishman a true master of his craft ahead of the pair’s upcoming trilogy bout at UFC 264.
Hardy, who correctly predicted that Poirier would utilize calf kicks to devastating success against McGregor at UFC 257, thinks ‘The Notorious’ is the superior technician but questions whether the former champ champ is as hungry as he once was.
“I do think he’s a better martial artist just generally than Poirier. I think he’s got a better mastery of range and striking, a better understanding of the application of martial arts and how to work somebody over psychologically as well,” Hardy told Submission Radio in a recent interview (h/t Sportskeeda).
“You’ve got to earn it as well,” he added. “You can’t just get in there with the skills that you’ve earned in your early career and expect it to carry you all the way, especially when you’ve got a dog in front of you like Poirier who’ll just take you into deep waters and see what you’re made of.”
Poirier folded McGregor in the second round of their last fight, tying the score 1-1 after McGregor KO’d Poirier in their first encounter at UFC 178 when both men used to compete at featherweight.
UFC 264: Poirier vs. McGregor 3 takes place this Saturday, July 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.