Tag: UFC 236

“The Diamond” Dustin Poirier knows Max Holloway is one of the best in the world, but he plans to ‘look smooth’ while ‘outclassing’ the Hawaiian.

Poirier, 30, has sure come a long way since the 2011 MMA documentary Fightville. His subsequent run in World Extreme Combat (WEC) would set the stage for “The Diamond” to make his move to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

It would be the Octagon where Poirier would experience his highest highs and lowest lows. Through it all, the Louisiana native has learned a thing or two.

“I’m obviously the most mature I’ve been, the most patient and just over time and understanding of the fight game,” Poirier said (h/t mmanews). “I know it’s dangerous I’m still battling that not to just bite down and plant my feet and duke it out with these guys. I usually end up on the right side of that but the times that I don’t aren’t worth it. I know I have the power and the grit to put a lot of these guys away but when I do fight like that, it’s just whoever lands that shot first.”

“That’s just totally disrespecting the years of work that I’ve put in. I’m just hardwired that way. I’m a fighter at heart. When things get ugly, when things get tough, I don’t flight. I fight.”

Poirier’s 24-5 record is that much more impressive when considering who he has competed against. He has defeated former champions Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez, and most recently beat Justin Gaethje via knockout.

While Holloway is known for his insane cardio, Poirier too feels like he can push the pace. Regardless, “The Diamond” is confident he will get his hand raised on Saturday night.

“I know I can,” Poirier said. “I just have to go out there with the mindset and go out there ready to overcome anything he does. Ready to overcome anything that comes up in there. Whatever happens, I trust in myself and believe in my abilities. I know I can get it done and I know I can make it look smooth doing it.”

“This is the perfect time for me to showcase my true abilities because the guy is coming off great performances, everybody is talking about him. He’s really shining out there, outclassing people. If I go out there and do that to him, that really makes a statement winning the belt but really outclassing one of the best guys in the UFC right now.”

The post Dustin Poirier Plans On ‘Looking Smooth’ While Outclassing Max Holloway appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Dustin Poirier will attempt to capture his first UFC title at UFC 236 this weekend (Sat. April 13, 2019).

“The Diamond” squares off against featherweight champion Max Holloway in the main event of the pay-per-view (PPV) main card. The pair will compete for the interim UFC lightweight championship. Whoever walks out of Atlanta with the strap will have a ‘guaranteed’ unification bout with the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov at some point down the line.

Speaking to MMA Junkie recently, Poirier discussed his future at lightweight. He has no plans at returning to his former home at 145 pounds, and also noted that it isn’t fun cutting down to lightweight anymore either. A potential move up to the welterweight division could be in the cards as a result:

“I could never make 145 again, and I never will,” Poirier said “If anything, I’ll go up. Definitely a possibility. My body is just getting heavier, more dense.

“Things change as you get older, and ’55 is not fun to make anymore. Not that fighting has to be fun 100 percent of the time, but I just want to be healthy.”

Poirier has been with the UFC since 2011, getting his start as a featherweight fighter. He’s proved to be one of the division’s best. After his title aspirations at 145 pounds didn’t work out, Poirier jumped up to lightweight and has been exceptional.

With wins over Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, and Eddie Alvarez, Poirier has proven to be one of the elite in arguably the UFC’s toughest division. Now, he faces the ultimate test in Holloway, one of the best pound-for-pound champions in the sport.

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The UFC has received a lot of criticism for their new championship belt design, which debuted in January.

UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo was the first fighter to wear the new belt, defending his 125-pound throne against TJ Dillashaw. Jon Jones and Kamaru Usman followed with their title victories at UFC 235. Many fans and even fighters have said they prefer the old look.

However, UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway explained to MMA Fighting why his childhood love for Power Rangers makes him a fan of the new design:

“I saw the picture and said “I’m not gonna judge it until I see it. And when I saw it I loved it. Come on, I grew up in the era of Power Rangers. Could you not see Dana White as the white Power Ranger?

“I’m sold when I saw that I was like, ‘I am sold on this belt.’ It looks a little bit Power Rangery, it’s cool. And then, you get the rubies like Thanos now, you take people’s souls and put them on your new belt,” Holloway said.

Holloway will main event this weekend’s (Sat April 13, 2019) UFC 236 pay-per-view (PPV). “Blessed” faces off against Dustin Poirier for the interim lightweight championship of the world. Should he emerge victorious, he’ll become the first champion in UFC history to hold an interim championship in another weight class.

The victory will also come with a future unification bout against undefeated 155-pound champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is currently serving a suspension for his involvement in the post-UFC 229 brawl.

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