Conor McGregor changes prediction for UFC rival Islam Makachev's fight

30 May 2024 , 14:29

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Conor McGregor changes prediction for UFC rival Islam Makachev's fight

Conor McGregor has changed his prediction for Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier's world title fight at UFC 302.

Makhachev defends his lightweight belt this Saturday night against McGregor's familiar foe Poirier. McGregor believes Makhachev could be suffering from a suspected staph infection ahead of the fight after a picture circulated on social media showing the champion with a concerning mark on his left shin.

McGregor was backing Poirier to KO Makhachev, but his thoughts on the fight have now changed as he tweeted: "Staph again. This inbred however lives with Staph. This team is infested, make no mistake. Scruff balls. Whatever ya’s are into, I suppose. He still subs Dustin in the first [round]."

Poirier has beaten McGregor twice throughout their trilogy series, but McGregor has refuted his second defeat to the American because of a leg break he suffered that ended the fight. McGregor originally said of Poirier's fight against Makhachev: "I think Dustin can do him. I think Dustin does him, knocks him out.

"I think the things that Makhachev does wrong, the things he’s not good at? He fumbles over his feet, usually early on and falls into shots. He’s been knocked out by that back check hook from a southpaw before inside the UFC. That’s one of Dustin’s best shots! If Dustin’s ever going to do it, this will be his time."

UFC champion demands to know how Conor McGregor has become so "jacked"

Makhachev has won his last 13 UFC fights and can tie a record for all-time consecutive lightweight title defences with a win against Poirier. McGregor admitted that Poirier, who has been tapped out three times before, does have weaknesses that Makhachev can feed off.

“Dustin does his things bad also that feed into Makhachev’s strengths," he added. "It is all to play for, there is no clear favourite in it. Look at Dustin’s last fight, he was getting manhandled by Benoit Saint-Denis and he stayed with it and then caught him. He got back to his feet and landed a shot so that was great experience and if there’s ever a chance for him to get it done, this will be it."

Harry Davies