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UFC 281 takes place in less than two weeks’ time, and while event features two title bouts, its main card also features a major lightweight bout between Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier.
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Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier are renowned for being two of the most exciting fighters to watch in the UFC, so could the two lightweight stars produce 2022’s Fight of the Year?
Given their previous form, it’s entirely possible that they could. Of course, nothing is for certain in the octagon and Poirier’s fight with Chandler could somehow produce a stinker or end in a freakish injury. With any luck, though, we’ll be treated to a classic.
Here are five reasons why Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler could be the UFC’s Fight of the Year for 2022.
#5. Neither Dustin Poirier or Michael Chandler tend to put on dull fights
The most obvious reason why Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler might produce a Fight of the Year candidate is the fact that neither man has tended to put on anything but wildly exciting fights in their previous trips to the octagon.
Of the two, Poirier has far more octagon experience, having signed with the UFC way back in 2011 following the absorption of the WEC roster. He put on his first classic bout in 2012 when he faced Chan Sung Jung in a wild brawl. Since then, he’s been part of numerous classics, including wars with Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor.
‘The Diamond’ fights with a pressure-based boxing style, walking his opponents down to look to land booming combinations. It’s a gameplan that tends to force his foes to fire back, almost guaranteeing a brawl.
Chandler, meanwhile, only debuted in the octagon in 2021. Since then he’s made a huge impact in just four fights. Sure, he’s gone 2-2, but every one of his bouts has seen fireworks, from his violent knockouts of Tony Ferguson and Dan Hooker to his back-and-forth losses to Charles Oliveira and Gaethje.
‘Iron Mike’ could perhaps be considered more of a counter-striker than Poirier. He also has his powerful wrestling game to fall back on, but he’s equally adept at simply winging power punches – and absorbing them, too.
The old adage says that styles make fights. When you put Poirier’s style against Chandler’s, fireworks should ensue – making this one a potential classic.
#4. It’s almost impossible to say who has the advantage
In most fights in the UFC, even those with high stakes, it’s usually possible to pinpoint some advantages for one of the fighters involved and pick a favorite to come out on top.
That isn’t really the case when it comes to Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler. More than any other fight in recent memory, it’s nearly impossible to say who might have the advantage in this one, meaning that it feels like anything could happen.
On one hand, Poirier is perhaps the cleaner boxer, he’s a little more proven against elite-level foes in the octagon, and he may well be able to put ‘Iron Mike’ on the back foot if he fights using his trademark pressuring game.
On the other hand, though, Chandler carries remarkably brutal power in his hands and legs, should have a takedown advantage if the fight comes to that, and it’s probably fair to suggest that ‘The Diamond’ has had his chin cracked a few times in the past.
Essentially, anything could happen in this fight, from a wild brawl that goes the distance to either man scoring an early knockout after a shootout. That unpredictability adds another dimension to the fight, making it even more likely to produce a potential Fight of the Year.
#3. Both Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler have a lot to prove
While it’d be unfair to claim that either Dustin Poirier or Michael Chandler have their backs to the wall coming into their clash at UFC 281, it’s also fair to suggest that both men have a lot to prove in this fight.
Poirier actually hasn’t fought in almost a year after being defeated by Charles Oliveira in their title fight last December. His somewhat listless showing in that bout , particularly in comparison to the way that he dissected Conor McGregor in his previous two outings, has triggered some fans to question whether he’s a choker of sorts on the biggest stage.
Chandler, meanwhile, is coming off a massive win over Tony Ferguson. But given that before that, he was defeated by Oliveira and Justin Gaethje, it’s safe to say that there are still a few question marks over where he sits in the bigger picture of the lightweight division.
If ‘Iron Mike’ can find a way to defeat ‘The Diamond’ in New York, then there’ll be absolutely no question that the former Bellator MMA lightweight champ also belongs at the top of the UFC’s 155lb division.
If Poirier can come out on top, on the other hand, then it’d be hard to see his loss to Oliveira as anything but an outlier of sorts.
With this considered, it’s likely that both men will be even more desperate for a win than they would normally be, purely because of the timing of this clash. With so much on the line, it’s hard to imagine them producing anything but a classic.
#2. A lightweight title shot could end up being at stake
One variable that many UFC fans are overlooking when it comes to the upcoming clash between Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler is the fact that a lightweight title shot could actually lie in the future for the winner.
That wouldn’t have been the case had Charles Oliveira regained the lightweight title in his bout with Islam Makhachev a few weeks ago. Famously, ‘Do Bronx’ defeated Chandler to win the title in 2021 and then defended it successfully against Poirier later that year.
Were the Brazilian still holding the title, then even an impressive victory would probably not have netted the winner of this bout a shot at it.
However, with Makhachev, who has never fought either Poirier or Chandler, now holding the title, far more is on the line. Sure, Alexander Volkanovski appears to be getting the first crack at the Dagestani, but after that, who knows?
With that considered, a big win for either Poirier or Chandler, particularly if it comes via stoppage, could well be enough to net them a title shot, particularly given their name value with casual fans.
Suddenly, then, this fight has far higher stakes than it did only a month ago. That means that both Poirier and Chandler will be desperate to fight at their very best and claim a win. With neither man likely to be willing to back down, they could treat the fans to a Fight of the Year candidate.
#1. Over three rounds, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler can let it all hang out
It’s probably fair to say that both Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler are both main event caliber fighters. Over the years, both men have fought in numerous five-round wars, some of them in the headline bouts of huge shows.
However, at UFC 281, they’re acting as part of the supporting cast. With two title fights at the top of the card, including the middleweight title showdown between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira, Poirier’s fight with Chandler is actually scheduled for just three rounds.
Some fans would probably scoff at this and suggest that the bout would be better off being scheduled for five rounds. However, having less rounds scheduled could actually mean a more exciting fight overall.
Given that both men are used to conditioning themselves for five rounds, it’s likely that in a shorter fight, they’ll be more willing to push a torrid pace than they would normally be, given that they’ll be fighting for potentially 10 minutes less than usual.
If both ‘The Diamond’ and ‘Iron Mike’ come out looking to push the pace and really put pressure on their foe, then, it’s highly likely that they could meet in the middle of the octagon and throw down, just like everyone is hoping.
After all, that’s what happened in Chandler’s 2021 bout with Justin Gaethje. Unsurprisingly, many people saw that as one of the best fights of that year.
If Dustin Poirier takes the same approach as Gaethje did against ‘Iron Mike’, then, we could definitely be in for a stone cold classic at UFC 281.
