Much Riding on McGregor v Poirier Trilogy Fight

A trilogy that has spanned seven years will be concluded in Las Vegas on July 10 as Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier meet for the third time. The decider will be the showpiece fight of an electric UFC 264 card.

IT’S FIGHT WEEK! 🔥💥ðŸŒ

💎 @DustinPoirier 🆚 @TheNotoriousMMA 3 ðŸ‡ðŸ‡ª
ðŸ“ﾍ T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
📘 The Final Chapter

LET’S GOOOOOOOO!#UFC264 Saturday BT Sport Box Office â–¶ï¸ﾏ https://t.co/45z0DbKW8e pic.twitter.com/1TOylhtble

— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) July 5, 2021

Poirier Favorite to Prevail

McGregor remains MMA’s biggest name but was stunned six months ago when Poirier avenged his 2014 defeat with a second-round TKO. That opened the door for this weekend’s trilogy fight in which the American will start as the choice pick according to the latest Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier betting odds. This is in stark contrast to the last contest back in January when McGregor entered the octagon as the big favorite. It’s no surprise the tables have turned as Poirier is currently the No. 1 fighter in the lightweight division, while McGregor is currently ranked 5th. When the two first met back in 2014, McGregor won via a first-round TKO as he powered his way to the pinnacle of the sport, raising its profile in the process.

A Lot on the Line for McGregor

Despite January’s second-round defeat in Abu Dhabi and the contenders’ current respective rankings, McGregor remains the biggest box office draw in the sport. There will be a sell-out crowd as well as a huge global pay-per-view audience tuning in to witness the conclusion of this career-spanning triple-header. It remains to be seen what the outcome of this fight will mean for McGregor’s future. However, there is a feeling that he is putting his reputation on the line and this fight marks the most significant crossroads in his MMA career to date.

There have already been question marks raised about his enthusiasm and dedication to the MMA cause following his recent flirtations with boxing. This is a factor that could come into play in the build-up to this fight, and may sway many punters to back Dustin Poirier to become the best-of-three winner. Yet, McGregor’s relentless pursuit of a swift rematch suggests that his commitment and dedication to the sport remains as strong as ever. Anything else would go against his fiercely competitive nature.

Thank you Team! For all your dedicated work!
This Saturday we shine! pic.twitter.com/HPWrhjSfkV

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 7, 2021

Victory Would Give Brand a Boost

Victory for McGregor would be welcome for UFC organizers who will be keen to keep this particular train rolling with a potential title shot against lightweight title-holder Charles Oliveira later in the year already being talked about. Yet, defeat would leave the soon-to-be 34-year-old with a 1-3 record over his last four contests and diminish his status as an elite competitor. The opportunities to fight would still come thanks to his celebrity standing but he may be tempted to turn his attention elsewhere.

Poirier has also put plenty on the line, opting to swerve a shot at the vacant lightweight title in favor of a big pay day and a global TV audience. If he wins, that title shot will likely come anyway but will bring much greater focus and added prestige. If he beats McGregor and then claims the 155-pound title, he would be propelled to legendary status at the age of 32.

All in all, this weekend’s contest could prove to be the defining moment in the future of both fighters.