Dustin Poirier previews Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev clash, shares official prediction: "It is a five-round co-main event"
Dustin Poirier has put forth his assessment of the highly-anticipated showdown between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev. 'The Diamond' gave his predictions for the other UFC 308 main card matchups as well.
The UFC 308 event transpires at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., on Oct. 26, 2024. It's set to be headlined by a UFC featherweight title fight between reigning champion Ilia Topuria and former divisional ruler Max Holloway. The co-headlining match is a middleweight title eliminator between Whittaker and Chimaev.
The UFC 308 main card also boasts three other fights, including a light heavyweight bout between Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic. Lerone Murphy will fight Dan Ige in a featherweight bout, whereas Shara Magomedov clashes against Armen Petrosyan in a middleweight matchup.
Speaking to ESPN's SportsCenter, former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier gave his main card picks for UFC 308. The Louisianian predicted Shara Magomedov to beat Armen Petrosyan and stay undefeated as a professional MMA fighter.
'The Diamond' alluded to Dan Ige's last fight, a unanimous decision defeat against Diego Lopes after taking the fight on a few hours' notice in June. He picked Ige to defeat Lerone Murphy. Also, Poirier foresees Magomed Ankalaev beating Aleksandar Rakic:
"Gotta go with the 'Bullet' [Shara Magomedov]; undefeated record stays intact ... I gotta go with Dan Ige. He's a warrior, took a fight on a few hours' notice last time he was in there. Now, he's got a full camp. Let's go Ankalaev."
Regarding the UFC 308 co-headlining match, Dustin Poirier underscored that the fight's been booked for five rounds. He indicated that Khamzat Chimaev's supposedly questionable cardio would help former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker overwhelm him in the later rounds. Poirier stated:
"Whittaker. I think Chimaev is going to get tired in the later rounds. It is a five-round co-main event. I think fourth and fifth round, Whittaker is going to put it on."
As for the headlining match, Poirier picked Max Holloway to defeat Ilia Topuria:
"I would never bet against Max Holloway. I'm going Max by decision."
Check out Dustin Poirier's comments below:
Dustin Poirier recalls fights against Max Holloway, analyzes latter's UFC 308 clash against Ilia Topuria
Dustin Poirier defeated Max Holloway twice, via first-round submission at featherweight in 2012 and via unanimous decision at lightweight in 2019. On ESPN's SportsCenter, Poirier, who's eyeing a two-fight return before potential retirement, recounted his fights against Holloway. He warned that Ilia Topuria can't let 'Blessed' find his rhythm.
Poirier recalled having considerable success with stance-switching and the overhand, adding that Topuria could do the same. 'The Diamond' opined that 'El Matador' must safely enter close range and box on the inside against the taller rangie Holloway. He said:
"To put Max away is going to be tough. Max has never been knocked down, so to knock him out is a big task. I think Max is going to win a decision. Topuria is a tough man himself, but I think Max is going to win a decision."
Watch Dustin Poirier's assessment below (1:40 and 2:08):