UFC 264 Predictions: Dan Hardy Predicts McGregor vs Dustin Poirier 3

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3 years ago

(L-R) Opponents Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor pose face off for media during the UFC 257 press conference event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 21, 2021 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

The former UFC fighter gave his prediction for the trilogy bout between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier

On the 10th of July, McGregor and Poirier will be out to chase greatness. The pair will be looking forward to settling their scores in the heated rivalry that began almost 7 years ago.

It was McGregor who went 1-0 up after beating Poirier at UFC 178 in September 2014. He won the fight via first-round knockout.

The second fight took place 6 years later. Poirier exacted revenge for his loss with a second-round knockout win at UFC 257 in January, earlier this year.

Dustin Poirier reacts after his knockout victory over Conor McGregor of Ireland in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

A trilogy fight was agreed upon in the immediate aftermath, and now they are all set to face off at UFC 264 on the 10th of July in front of a full house in Las Vegas.

Elsewhere, former UFC fighter and commentator Dan Hardy gave his prediction for the super-clash. Speaking in the latest episode of Real Quick with Mike Swick, Hardy believed that McGregor had a chance to beat Poirier this time around.

He told Swick:

“Absolutely he’s got a chance to beat Poirier. If he would’ve beat Poirier the second time, I would have picked Poirier to win the third time, because McGregor wouldn’t be as interested. Since he is coming off a loss, I think he is more motivated and he is more likely to win the next one around.”

Dan Hardy believes Conor McGregor took Dustin Poirier lightly at UFC 257

McGregor beat Poirier with ease, the first time they met at UFC 178 in September 2014. Almost seven years later, Poirier wasn’t the same man. He had improved in leaps and bounds.

Conor McGregor tagged Dustin Poirier a few times with his jab at UFC 257(Instagram)

McGregor took him lightly, at least that is what Hardy feels. In the same interview, Hardy claimed that McGregor was a bit overconfident after stopping Poirier very early in their first meeting.

“I think he took Poirier a little lightly because he stopped him so early the first time around…I don’t think he [McGregor] credited Poirier with his adaptability to be able to find a way to beat McGregor.”

The winner of the fight will get to fight the lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.