Another major event involving the lightweight division draws near. The showdown between lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and perennial contender Dustin Poirier has fans in anticipation. Many had already given up on any chance Dustin Poirier may have in this UFC 302 headliner. However, UFC veteran Anthony Smith has a different take.
According to UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith, Poirier may have more hope than people think. In Smith’s eyes, this fight is much closer than oddsmakers believe. He believed that Islam Makhachev’s style gave Dustin Poirier a better chance than he had against Khabib Nurmagomedov. This is what Smith said:
I think this fight is much closer than a lot of people give it credit for and I think Dustin Poirier knows this is his probably his last opportunity to win undisputed gold.
Anthony Smith via ESPN MMA YT
Critics cite the time “Diamond” was thoroughly manhandled by Makhachev’s mentor and friend, Khabib Nurmagomedov, in 2019. They believe that he has no chance against Nurmagomedov‘s prodigy. But Smith, with his analytical take, described the fight to be a close affair. He believed that Makhachev was willing to stand up and engage in striking, unlike Nurmagomedov. This may give Dustin Poirier an edge in the fight.
Poirier’s last chance at the lightweight title that eluded him his entire career will happen at UFC 302. It may even be his last walk to the Octagon. The headliner of UFC 302 promises to be a banger, with both athletes giving it their all. One is trying to move up in the GOAT status, and the other aims to fulfill his dream of the undisputed lightweight belt around his waist.
Anthony Smith gets inspired by Dustin Poirier
Fighters are always looking to improve their resumes. The newest addition to Anthony Smith’s resume remains the guillotine choke win. But he didn’t just come up with the idea. He was inspired, and that inspiration came from an unlikely source ahead of his UFC 301 clash with Vitor Petrino.
Anthony Smith was inspired by Dustin Poirier (via MMA Fighting/MMA Mania)Smith had watched Dustin Poirier’s fights intently in preparation for his bout in Brazil. As such, one thing caught his attention. Poirier’s penchant for attempting the ever-dangerous guillotine choke in virtually every fight.
I’ve been hitting it [guillotine] in the gym a lot. And it was kind of spurred on by Poirier, because I realized I didn’t have any guillotine finishes in my whole pro career. So I was like, ‘Man, that’d be be cool to get a guillotine.’
Anthony Smith via the post-fight interview with Karyn Bryant for ESPN MMA
So, in the spirit of Poirier, Smith made it his mission leading up to UFC 301 to get a guillotine finish. The chance presented itself early when he finally met Petrino in the heat of battle in Rio.
Just over two minutes into the opening round, Smith deftly threaded his arm under Petrino’s chin and squeezed with all his might. The hometown hero had no choice but to tap out. Like that, Smith had checked off a career-first guillotine submission while authoring another memorable chapter in Brazil.
