UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs Pettis Betting Odds and Preview

Though it may go overlooked by some casual fans, UFC’s trip to Norfolk, Virginia this Saturday is stacked with action-packed fights. The main event sees Dustin Poirier trying to cement himself as a lightweight contender when he takes on former champion Anthony Pettis.

UFC matchmakers did a great job on this card with bouts like Matt Brown vs Diego Sanchez, Joe Lauzon vs Clay Guida and John Dodson vs Marlon Moraes.

Dustin Poirier vs Anthony Pettis

Dustin Poirier (-110) has found renewed life after moving down to lightweight, as “The Diamond” is 5-1 with one no contest since dropping to 155. However, it is not just the change in weight that has Poirier performing better but his commitment to a more technical striking game.

Poirier has always been athletic and powerful but you can see his growth on the technical side of striking. He has great footwork and few fighters work angles the way he can. This movement helps him be the aggressive fighter he wants to be, as he aims to be in close. Poirier does his best striking in tight quarters where he can dirty box and he becomes especially dangerous if he can get his opponent’s back on the fence.

Aside from just pouring on strikes along the cage, Poirier can also initiate a mean clinch game. He has a great ability to control his opponent’s neck with one hand while landing knees and elbows. He will also change levels to land a takedown from this position and start working some nice ground and pound.

After a brief stint at featherweight, Anthony Pettis (-120) returned to 155 pounds in a victory over Jim Miller at UFC 213. This fight is really a test to gauge where exactly Pettis is at this point in his career.

We know what to expect from Pettis, as the former champion wants to stand at a distance to properly utilize his kicks. Through most of his career, his speed has enabled him to dictate where a fight takes place, which has allowed him to use his lethal kicks or an underrated counter-attack.

However, his weaknesses are just as obvious as his strengths. Pettis struggles mightily when an opponent suffocates him, giving him no room to properly utilize his full striking arsenal. That has led to many opponents choosing to wrestle “Showtime,” which Pettis has yet to prove he has a capable defense for. Once Pettis finds his back on the cage, he is overwhelmed. That being said, he is a surprisingly lethal finisher when he can get top control; he just rarely shoots for it.

Pettis is still a good fighter but he is one-dimensional. That one dimension is really good but it requires him to keep his opponent at bay for the duration of the fight. Poirier is not one to allow his opponent to dictate the terms of the fight, which could be a massive hurdle for “Showtime.”

Other Notable Fights

UFC stalwart Matt Brown (-350) will make his last walk to the Octagon in his retirement fight against Diego Sanchez (+265) in the co-main event. Brown is first and foremost a pressure-based fighter. “The Immortal” likes to push forward and trap his opponent in order to unload strikes. He would prefer to get into a clinch and do his dirty work there. Though Brown has spent time on his grappling game, it is still sorely lacking. Sanchez is still the aggressive, forward-moving wrestler he was in his youth. There have been gains in his technical striking but Sanchez is more about bullying his opponent and getting into wild brawls. He is not a technical marvel when wrestling, but is aggressive and constantly working.

Struggling heavyweight Andrei Arlovski (+260) will look to pick up his first win in five fights when he takes on youngster Junior Albini (-340). Arlovski is one of the legendary figures in the sport but Father Time is undefeated. “The Pit Bull” still has power and speed in his hands to be a threat but his jaw is made of glass at this point. Albini has some good footwork on the feet and throws his hands with decent quickness. He isn’t exactly the best athlete or an elite finisher but he is composed inside the Octagon.