The UFC 269 lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier will be a battle of fists, kicks, jiu-jitsu, and more than anything; heart. Both of these main event fighters had a career filled with adversity and struggle. Each also had an early life which made their success even more challenging. Today, Charles Oliveira vs Dustin Poirier will meet at the apex of their careers, at the top of the UFC’s most competitive division. The coveted UFC lightweight title will be on the line.
Charles Oliveira vs Dustin Poirier – UFC 269 Preview
Champion Charles Oliveira
The reigning UFC lightweight champions Charles Oliveira, of Brazil, won the title at UFC 262 when he earned a TKO victory in Round 2 against Michael Chandler. Oliveira made his UFC debut at age 21 and had mixed results. He jumped around in different weight classes, often struggling to make weight. But in 2107 he made changes to his fight camp, now training at the Chute-Boxe Academy, and dedicated himself to one single weight class. And since changing camps he has had a win streak of 9 fights, going undefeated and taking a title with him.
As a child Oliveira struggled with his health. He had a heart murmur and arthritis. To help the family make ends meet he helped sell food out of a trailer with his mother. His success in any sports was an impossibility. Not only being successful in sports but also rising to the highest level. Before his debut in MMA, he was competing and winning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu championships. And before his UFC debut, he was a tournament fighter, he won multiple tournaments where he had to defeat multiple opponents on the same night.
Today, Oliveira has the record for most submissions in UFC history and along the way has impressively defeated Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler, Kevin Lee, Clay Guida, Will Brooks, Jim Miller, and others. And given his struggle in life and in the cage, this is a title he won’t be looking to give up easily.
Contender Dustin Poirier
Dustin Poirier has had an amazing 2021. He defeated his former rival Conor McGregor in two blockbuster fights. In his MMA career, Poirier had struggled at certain times. Early on he struggled with weight cuts and was often too aggressive. The Louisana-born has had 28 fights in the UFC/WEC and forced himself to improve through tough and gritty cage time. Despite early losses and in-cage wars; he has created a style that works. Since 2018 he has had six wins and merely one loss against then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
As a young man, Poirier made life as challenging as possible. He was kicked out of school due to getting into fights, he even met his wife during a fight in the hallway. While he didn’t finish high school he found success in the cage. A lifetime dedicated to fighting. He had struggled and had losses but never gave up. His opponents, particularly Nurmagomedov, always compliment his heart. His opponents often donate their fight kit to Poirier and his wife to help support their charitable organization The Good Fight.
Poirier has had a legendary UFC career having some of the most entertaining fights in the history of the sport when he won wars against champions Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez, Conor McGregor, and Anthony Pettis. He is a former interim-title holder and will be looking to add more UFC gold to his career.
Charles Oliveira vs Dustin Poirier
When breaking down Oliveira’s UFC 262 main event bout we noted how often he often utilizes his lead left hook. He uses it frequently in all of his fights and won his UFC title with this strike as well. In his Poirier matchup, he will need to adjust this lead hook so that it always has a setup, due to it being against a southpaw. A lead left hook with no setup will be easily blocked by Poirier’s lead shoulder. However, Dan Hooker found success with a lead left hook against Poirier due to setting it up by faking low.
Oliveira has not fought many southpaws in his UFC career. He won a submission victory over southpaw David Teymur. In this match, his lead hook was of no use but did get an impressive knockdown with an up-elbow strike. Also, Nik Lentz was switching stances to the open side when he was TKO’d by Oliveira off of a low kick.
Due to the open stance in a southpaw vs orthodox fight, a low kick can often be a dangerous technique. While throwing a low kick a fighter will often have their head on the centerline which leaves it open for a rear-hand straight punch. Oliveira did this against Lentz and Poirier was able to do the same against Gaethje. Both Oliveira and Poirier love utilizing low kicks so it will be vital to see how both adjust their games.
The rear-hand straight is Poirier’s best strike. He has rocked many great opponents with it. Oliveira at times has struggled against rear-hand straights against southpaws. He was dropped by a left hand against Chandler when Chandler shifted, switched stance, to a southpaw stance. Also, southpaw Teymur was able to score a knockdown with his left rear-hand straight against Oliveira as well.
On the ground Oliveira holds the record for most submission wins in UFC history. He has a fast snap-down and has a very tight clamp. Many great fighters have not been able to escape the clutches of Oliveira. Poirier has good takedown defense but is much more notable at how skilled his ability to get up is, and his wall walk. Poirier will want to grapple defensively.
UFC 269 will be a battle of heart with two great fighters meeting at the top of their career. Each many struggled in life and their MMA careers to get here. And neither will want to back down. Charles Oliveira vs Dustin Poirier will represent a fight of grit and determination with the UFC lightweight title on the line.
Charles Oliveira vs Dustin Poirier Stats
| Charles Oliveira | Dustin Poirier | |
| 31-8-0 | Record | 28-6-0 |
| Orthodox | Stance | Southpaw |
| 5’10” | Height | 5’9″ |
| 74 | Reach | 72 |
| 52% | Striking Accuracy | 50% |
| 53% | Striking Defense | 54% |
| 44% | Takedown Accuracy | 36% |
| 57% | Takedown Defense | 61% |
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