5 UFC stars who are better boxers than Conor McGregor

#2. Petr Yan - The interim UFC bantamweight champ

Petr Yan captured the bantamweight title after just two years in the UFC. After beating veterans like John Dodson and Urijah Faber, Yan knocked out Jose Aldo to become the king of the division in 2020.

The Russian started boxing at a young age and was a standout amateur boxer. His superior boxing skills were apparent from the moment he stepped inside the octagon. In his first fight, he KO'd Teruto Ishihara in round one.

Yan is arguably the heaviest hitter in the UFC bantamweight division. However, he is not just a power puncher but has excellent technique as well. 'No Mercy' uses his jab very effectively. He uses it to split his opponent's guard and dictate the distance, disrupting their rhythm.

The Russian also switches between hard shots to the body and the head. While McGregor has become more of a head hunter, Yan often catches opponents off guard with sudden level changes. Another aspect that makes 'No Mercy' special is that he can box equally well in both orthodox and southpaw stances.

At UFC 257, the Irishman lost his mobility when Poirier took out his lead leg. Meanwhile, when Jose Aldo troubled Yan with leg kicks, he switched stances and TKO'd Aldo later in the fight.

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#1. Dustin Poirier - Outboxing Conor McGregor

Dustin Poirier is a battle-hardened UFC veteran. Poirier has always been a well-rounded fighter who relies more on his striking prowess.

However, at UFC 178, the Louisiana native's striking was not on par with Conor McGregor. The Irishman pressured Poirier, dropped him with a powerful left hook and finished him in round one. Undeterred by the loss, 'The Diamond' moved up to lightweight.

It soon became clear that the American was more of a natural at lightweight. The weight increase did not affect his cardio. Over the years, he has been in five-round wars with Justin Gaethje, Dan Hooker and Max Holloway but has never gassed out. However, the most noticeable improvement was how much more power he generated.

Since 2015, he has amassed 9 KO/TKO wins. Along with power, he also improved his defense and timing. These improvements were on full display against his old rival, 'The Notorious'. When the Irishman made his much-anticipated return in January 2021, Poirier pulled off an upset for the ages.

He compromised McGregor's movement with heavy leg kicks. He also slipped and parried McGregor's biggest shots. In the second round, 'The Diamond' had the Irishman up against the fence and finished him with massive punches. The trilogy fight at UFC 264 was more of the same. Poirier was up 10-9 on the judges' scorecards when McGregor suffered a leg injury at the end of round one.