Poirier's chin

[OldBoy91]

His composure in chaotic fights with JBG type of fighters is impressive. Dude can stay in the fire, but also fights strategic at the same time.

It's funny to think about, but yeah he keeps his composure in a fire fight, but gets incredibly distracted by small things in there. He's constantly adjusting his shorts and playing with his hair mid fight.

 

[kingghidrah]

He gets hit more than just about anyone in the UFC and stays standing up, shakes it off, and gets back to business.

Not a great thing for his future CTE but a hell of an attribute for a fighter. If he had an average chin we wouldn't be talking about Poirier at all. He'd be a journeyman who was always on the verge of getting cut from the UFC.

 

[kingghidrah]

It's funny to think about, but yeah he keeps his composure in a fire fight, but gets incredibly distracted by small things in there. He's constantly adjusting his shorts and playing with his hair mid fight.

I kept thinking Chandler's the kind of guy to gameplan timing his shorts pull and doing a face-kick right then.

When it's not a firefight Dustin doesn't know what to do with himself so he pulls at his shorts which doesn't even adjust them, it's a nervous thing or habit he has to "re-set" mentally

 

[Paulsp]

He stays composed when he’s hurt, rolls with the punches very well, and fires back as well

he genuinely is incapable of having a boring fight

 

[Skarsgard]

His chin is not excellent. Proved by Michael Johnson.

Michael Johnson also did the most visible damage to Khabib's chin. He's been unbearably inconsistent, but when he's on, he's on. Not to mention that Dustin was just settling back into the division.

 

[NicholasJBasile]

Chandler hit Poirier with some absolute bombs and DP just took them. I'm not really a big fan of either, but you gotta respect Dustin's chin, not to mention his patience.

Discuss...if you want

I was talking to my mate about this the other night. I have been following Poirier's career since the WEC days. He was always a tough dude, but he used to have a weak chin. He has become so much more durable -- I think he just roles with the punches better. I remember when he was on a role at 155 and got lit up like a Christmas tree by Michael Johnson, I felt we had seen his ceiling and was of the impressions that 155 would plague him with issues, but I'll be dammed if he hasn't taken many heavy bombs from some of the most powerful fighters only to survive and come out on top in many occasions.

 

[NicholasJBasile]

Yeah I think Chandler could've won if he'd decided to wrestle instead of put on a show, but man Poirier looked great. I hope they don't send him to the TS again...I hope Dariush gets the next shot after Volk

Agreed -- probably wishful thinking, but I don't want Dariush to take another fight until he gets a title shot.

 

[markg171]

Poirier himself said Chandler would've put him out in the 1st round if he wasn't an idiot and had thrown straighter shots when he was hurt instead of throwing those looping massive hooks and overhands that gave him additional time to block and recover.

Rogan: "It was a wild, wild fight, and a wild first round in particular. There was moments that you got caught. Were you in trouble?"

Poirier: "Of course! Over here, against the wall, I couldn't see what he was throwing. Good thing he throws looping, if he'd a threw straight, he probably would have got me out of here man."

Poirier's chin has never improved. People just fight him really stupidly and so don't actually end up hitting him when he's hurt.

 

[jitzmonkey]

Johnson ko'ed him at 155.

Johnson had quick snappy/accurate punches, though.

Semi-related note: I'm of the opinion that a Michael Chandler who works behind his jab to set up his overhand right bazooka could beat anyone at LW right now.


Edit: Just read previous comment above.
There you go.

 

[kingmob6]

Poirier is a better version of Gaethje pretty much. Heart of a Lion, man is never shook, always goes into a heat of a battle. I have a lot of respect and love for the Diamond. He is a tough sumbitch

 

[linvillegorge]

His chin is very good since he moved up to 155. Michael Johnson might not be a great fighter, but he IS a great PUNCHER. Similar to Melvin Guillard in that regard. The guy can KO anyone in the division.

 

[mudrubble]

As a fan of both, it was an unreal first round. Real edge-of-your-seat action. Unfortunately for Chandler, he needs a W more than he needs an exciting fight at this point. Poirier on the other hand looked great, was calm under fire, and made a great comeback. . . although his fight IQ in round 2 was a bit puzzling.

You know, I think they'll keep Chandler around for as long as he's exciting. He puts eyes on screens and I can't see them cutting him after any of these fights.

I think he, and Conor, and anyone whose fights are must see TV, can continue to lose forever, more or less, as long as each loss makes the UFC good revenue. If anything, they'll convince him to take a step down in competition for one or two fights to build his record back up and pay him for it because he brings excitement and eyes to the events.

I could be wrong but I think he's protecting his job with these fights.

 

[Natural Order]

Dustin has an incredible chin and doesnt panic when under fire. Tries to see everything coming.

 

[richardjohnson]

Not directly related to the thread but it’s funny seeing people still try to say Chandler is the better fighter. Wake up people

 

[TrueBias]

I now really want to rewatch this fight.

When dustin lost to conor in their first fight, he was one of the examples i used to justify conors soft tko wins. Dustin went down, but wasnt out. Neither were a few other of conors wins. Only one conor got was aldo and it took aldo running into it to crystallize it.

 

[markg171]

Johnson had quick snappy/accurate punches, though.

Semi-related note: I'm of the opinion that a Michael Chandler who works behind his jab to set up his overhand right bazooka could beat anyone at LW right now.


Edit: Just read previous comment above.
There you go.

Yeah, for probably the most explosive guy in the division he goes about it completely wrong. The point is to explode at proper moments when your opponent's off guard, not just explode period. You're pretty much just relying on luck if you only do that.

Which is really weird considering his Hooker KO was precisely because he went to the body and then used his explosiveness to surprisingly come up top as well.

Same with Ferguson too. Body kick that surprisingly came up top instead.

And as you say, and Poirier himself said the same, these strikes call came off straighter shots. He's losing speed winging things.

He's perfectly capable of setting things up properly, but instead goes nuts. Could easily be 5-0 in the UFC right now, but instead is 2-3 because of it.

 

[markg171]

Poirier is a better version of Gaethje pretty much. Heart of a Lion, man is never shook, always goes into a heat of a battle. I have a lot of respect and love for the Diamond. He is a tough sumbitch

What exactly makes you think Poirier is still the better fighter than Gaethje at this point? It's been 4.5 years since they've fought.

 

[kingmob6]

What exactly makes you think Poirier is still the better fighter than Gaethje at this point? It's been 4.5 years since they've fought.

you've seen Gaethje fight right? I'm not talking about 4.5 years ago, I'm talking about always. Gaethje is a brawler, but technically and mentally he just isn't as good as Diamond. His decision making has always been suspect, he is a notch below Poirier as a fighter, that's pretty much indisputable to anyone who can analyze the fight game at least a bit.

 

[jeff7b9]

His chin is not excellent. Proved by Michael Johnson.

Dustin's chin is sufficient, not weak, not inhuman, but his DEFENSE has grown to be absolutely exceptional.

He never looks down under fire, always stays keenly aware of where the shots are coming from, he rolls well with punches, he blocks and parries well and varies his defense so opponents can't find a read that they can exploit. He varies his attacks which makes him harder to counter. He returns fire and doesn't shell up for long periods.

above all, he has become a very high level defensively sound striker. I have watched him since WEC /Fightville and you could see it develope, particularly in the time period between the Conor loss at 145 and the Alvarez and Gaethje wars where he began using more Muay Thai high elbow guard like Rampage was doing when he was training with Juanito Ibarra.

 

[markg171]

you've seen Gaethje fight right? I'm not talking about 4.5 years ago, I'm talking about always. Gaethje is a brawler, but technically and mentally he just isn't as good as Diamond. His decision making has always been suspect, he is a notch below Poirier as a fighter, that's pretty much indisputable to anyone who can analyze the fight game at least a bit.

He's a notch below Poirier despite taking him to the very brink 4.5 years ago while Poirier was in his stride and Justin hadn't hit his yet?

I mean, MMA Math isn't always great, but they did both just fight Chandler and Justin did it much better and easier. They have many common opponents as well that have had varying results between them (i.e Johnson KO'd Poirier while Justin KO'd Johnson, Charles submitted Justin in round 1 vs round 3 for Poirier, etc), hence why MMA Math isn't that great, but Chandler's a good example to show their present respective abilities as it's the same style for them to reflect their strengths against: whether they can force a stand and brawl. And Justin outstruck him much easier, defended the takedowns much easier, and got hurt less.

Maybe Poirier's the better fighter still. I just wouldn't bet on it.