Getting outboxed by Nate (damn near KO'd in their first fight) in the 2nd round of both their fights does not make one the best 2 round striker in the sports history.
They are underrating Dustin but Conor is still the favorite. Dustin has improved his boxing since his Conor loss and he's bigger now after moving up in weight. He's slower and not as precise as Conor, and Conor has better timing. Plus Dustin doesn't use feints, so you know it's always going to be combos from him every time he plants his feet or steps forward. Which makes it easier for counter strikers. Conor beat Dustin in their first fight using feints and counters which made Dustin hesitant. It froze him instead of pushing forward and throwing combos.Either the MMA fanbase secretly rates Conor extremely high in terms of his fighting ability, or they're just underestimating Dustin Poirier to a great extent. You don't beat Max Holloway 2x, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez, Dan Hooker, and Anthony Pettis without being one of the best lightweights of the last 4-5 years.
Offensive boxing:
Great ability to put together combinations instead of just one shot
Great counters
Finishing instinct is top level as well
Power in the pocket
Powerful at range as well
Good defense ever since the Michael Johnson loss
So there has been nobody aside from Michael Johnson (4 years ago) that has been able to out box Dustin Poirier at 155lbs. His power has increased, his durability has increased heavily, and his defense has gotten a lot better. It's mind boggling that the MMA fanbase heavily favors Conor in this despite the narratives that were previously pushed of Conor being washed & picking easy fights. Now he's fighting the #2 ranked guy, who beat Gaethje, and it's somehow an easy match up for him lol.
Very close fight. Whoever wins this pretty much establishes themselves as the undisputed #2 LW behind Khabib.
Great post and gifs. ANd I agree, I think people are underestimating Poirier big-time. Comparing Connor and Dustin's last couple years, and Poirier has been outshining Connor twofold+Either the MMA fanbase secretly rates Conor extremely high in terms of his fighting ability, or they're just underestimating Dustin Poirier to a great extent. You don't beat Max Holloway 2x, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez, Dan Hooker, and Anthony Pettis without being one of the best lightweights of the last 4-5 years.
Offensive boxing:
Great ability to put together combinations instead of just one shot
Great counters
Finishing instinct is top level as well
Power in the pocket
Powerful at range as well
Good defense ever since the Michael Johnson loss
So there has been nobody aside from Michael Johnson (4 years ago) that has been able to out box Dustin Poirier at 155lbs. His power has increased, his durability has increased heavily, and his defense has gotten a lot better. It's mind boggling that the MMA fanbase heavily favors Conor in this despite the narratives that were previously pushed of Conor being washed & picking easy fights. Now he's fighting the #2 ranked guy, who beat Gaethje, and it's somehow an easy match up for him lol.
Very close fight. Whoever wins this pretty much establishes themselves as the undisputed #2 LW behind Khabib.
I've thought that about every combo in every Poirier fight for years, yet he makes it work. I think he dances on the thin edge between throwing with enough power/accuracy/frequency to intimidate most guys into *not* risking setting anything up mid-barrage. But Connor's countering ability has me worried on that front, yes.
Either the MMA fanbase secretly rates Conor extremely high in terms of his fighting ability, or they're just underestimating Dustin Poirier to a great extent. You don't beat Max Holloway 2x, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez, Dan Hooker, and Anthony Pettis without being one of the best lightweights of the last 4-5 years.
Offensive boxing:
Great ability to put together combinations instead of just one shot
Great counters
Finishing instinct is top level as well
Power in the pocket
Powerful at range as well
Good defense ever since the Michael Johnson loss
So there has been nobody aside from Michael Johnson (4 years ago) that has been able to out box Dustin Poirier at 155lbs. His power has increased, his durability has increased heavily, and his defense has gotten a lot better. It's mind boggling that the MMA fanbase heavily favors Conor in this despite the narratives that were previously pushed of Conor being washed & picking easy fights. Now he's fighting the #2 ranked guy, who beat Gaethje, and it's somehow an easy match up for him lol.
Very close fight. Whoever wins this pretty much establishes themselves as the undisputed #2 LW behind Khabib.
