GSP And Firas Zahabi Divided Over Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 3
Georges St-Pierre and his longtime coach Firas Zahabi have given their predictions for the trilogy fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor, set to headline UFC 264 on July 10th.
Both fighters hold a knockout victory over one another. McGregor came out on top in the first battle at UFC 178 by way of a first-round TKO. While Poirier exacted his revenge with a second-round TKO at UFC 257 in January.
The winner of the trilogy fight is likely to challenge the newly-crowned champion Charles Oliveira, for the lightweight title.
Georges St-Pierre And Firas Zahabi’s Predictions
Speaking on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel (as transcribed by MMA Junkie), St-Pierre said that he expects McGregor to get the job done at UFC 264.
“I think McGregor is very good in rematches, and I think he’s going to have the victory,” St-Pierre said. “I think he’s probably going to win in the second round. A knockout.”
While St-Pierre is predicting an early knockout win for McGregor, Zahabi sees things differently. The Tristar head coach said that although it’s a very even contest, he’s backing Poirier to get his hand raised on the night.
“My official pick was 50-50 odds,” Zahabi said. “I think it could go either way, but because GSP picked McGregor, I’ve got to pick Poirier. I’m gonna make a case for Poirier right now. At 155 [pounds], McGregor’s power is maybe not exactly what it used to be, and he’s got to do five rounds. I think Poirier showed in fight number two (that) he’s smart enough to take McGregor in the later rounds. In round one, he took a big left, and he took it well.
“I think psychologically Poirier’s a bit more ready to take that left hand. He’s more aware about it. I think this is an incredibly difficult fight. Fifty-fifty, but if Georges picked McGregor, I gotta pick Poirier. I think Poirier’s going to take him into round three, and he’s going to do the same thing he did before. He’s gonna kick the leg, he’s gonna injure McGregor a little bit in the leg, and then he’s gonna put the hands on him. It’s going to be a trench war, and Poirier’s gonna put him away.”
Whose Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 3 prediction do you agree with, Georges St-Pierre or Firas Zahabi?
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