UFC stars and experts predicts Poirier vs. Chandler: ”Going to be nuts!”

Besides the UFC 281 main event, the most anticipated fight at MSG is the lightweight grudge match between Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler.

Click “Next” to check out how MMA pros and experts predict the exciting fight!

Cyril Gane

Pick: Poirier

Top ranked heavyweight Cyril Gane thinks ”The Diamond” get’s his hand raised at UFC 281.

”Maybe Porier. He’s on a good run,” Gane says.

Beneil Dariush

Pick: Poirier

Fellow lightweight Beneil Dariush thinks Chandler could win, but believes ”The Diamond” gets it done in the end.

”If Chandler fights smart, he should be able to win this fight,” Dariush says. “But I think Chandler right now is so focused on being exciting, so focused on being entertaining for the fans, he puts himself in really bad situations.

“I think if he goes out there, plays a very conservative striking game, a lot of wrestling, he should be able to pull this off. But in reality, I think Dustin Poirier is going to end up winning this fight, because Chandler is going to try to be more than he needs to be. I think he’s going to end up losing the fight because of that.”

Cory Sandhagen

Pick: Poirier

Top bantamweight Cory Sandhagen believes in Poirier.

”Yeah, I got Dustin in that one. I think Dustin is just such a presence, you know like, his built, his power, I think he’s just a tough, tough guy to deal with,” Sandhagen says.

Rafael Fiziev

Pick: Chandler

Rising lightweight Rafael Fiziev thinks Chandler will win because of his punching power.

”For sure Michael,” Fiziev says.

Sean Brady

Pick: Poirier

Welterweight Sean Brady gives Porieir the best chances at UFC 281.

”I’m going with Dustin on that one,” Brady says.

Mateusz Gamrot

Pick: Poirier

Lightweight Mateusz Gamrot thinks ”The Diamond” will cruise to a victory at UFC 281.

”I don’t see how Chandler can beat Porier. For sure I think Dustin is going to win. He’s too smart, too fast, too good everywhere than Chandler, ” Gamrot predicts.

Mackenzie Dern

Pick: Poirier

Top ranked strawweight Mackenzie Dern thinks Poirier takes it with his grappling and striking.

”Sick fight. I’m going to give it to Dustin,” Dern says.

Terrance McKinney

Pick: Poirier

Lightweight prospect Terrance McKinney thinks Poirier will end the fight in the third round.

”I see Dustin get the knockout,” McKinney says.

Dominick Reyes

Pick: Poirier

Former light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes, who also competes at UFC 281, thinks the fight will be crazy but believes Poirier gets it done.

”That’s going to be nuts, I got to go with Porier. Just because he is southpaw and I’m a southpaw ,”Reyes says.

Geoff Neal

Pick: Poirier

Welterweight Geoff Neal got Poirier winning at UFC 281.

”I always root for Dustin. Dustin is cool as hell,” Neal says. ”Michael Chandler is a beast though, you know what I mean. It’s going to be an exciting fight for sure, because Michal Chandler always brings it.

Nate Landwehr

Pick: The fans

Nate Landwehr likes both lightweights and can’t decide.

”I think who wins that fight is the fans. The fans are winning that one boy,” Landwehr says.

Vanessa Demopoulos

Pick: Poirier

Strawweight Vanessa Demopoulos loves the fight and believes Porieir will get the win.

”It’s hard for me to go against ”The Diamond” right now,” Demopoulos says.

Chase Hooper

Pick: Poirier

Featherweight Chase Hooper got ”The Diamond” as winner at UFC 281.

”I think I’m going to take Porier on that one,” Hooper says. ”I feel like his boxing is a lot crisper, he uses his range really well and I think his style really suits fighting a guy like Chandler.”

Erin Blanchfield

Pick: Poirier

Flyweight Erin Blanchfield, who also competes at UFC 281, thinks Poirier gets the win at MSG.

”He’s a little sharper, I think Chandler goes in their kind of swinging a little crazy,” Blanchfield reasons.

Gerald Meerschaert

Pick: Chandler 

Middleweight Gerald Meerschaert thinks Michael Chandler wins at Madison Square Garden.

”I have to go with my man Chandler. That’s a really good fight,” Meerschaert says.

This is Dustin Poirier

• Age: 33
• Height: 175 cm
• Reach: 183 cm
• Record: 28-7-1
• UFC record: 20-6-1
• UFC debut: UFC 125 on January 1, 2011
• Post-fight bonuses: 12

This is Michael Chandler

• Age: 36
• Height: 169 cm
• Reach: 180 cm
• Record: 23-7
• UFC record: 2-2
• UFC debut: UFC 257 on January 24, 2021
• Post-fight bonuses: 3

UFC 281 – Full Fight Card

Main Card

• Middleweight title fight: Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira
• Strawweight title fight: Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili
• Lightweight: Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler
• Bantamweight: Frankie Edgar vs. Chris Gutierrez
• Lightweight: Dan Hooker vs. Claudio Puelles

Prelims

• Lightweight: Brad Riddell vs. Renato Moicano
• Light heavyweight: Dominick Reyes vs. Ryan Spann
• Women’s flyweight: Erin Blanchfield vs. Molly McCann
• Middleweight: Wellington Turman vs. Andre Petroski

Early prelims

Women’s strawweight

• Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez
• Featherweight: Michael Trizano vs. Seung Woo Choi
• Lightweight: Matt Frevola vs. Ottman Azaitar
• Bantamweight: Montel Jackson vs. Julio Arce
• Light heavyweight: Carlos Ulberg vs. Nicolae Negumereanu

*Bout order and number of fights can change.

Read more: UFC stars and experts predicts Adesanya vs. Pereira: “Bad night for Izzy again”

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