For your typical Mixed Martial Arts fan, the last few weeks and months of 2022 calendar year are a pretty exiting ones with the match up in play and in a year that has been full of incredible drama and excitement, little is expected to relent in the battles that remain before we tick into 2023.
The November 12, Madison Square Garden card will hold particular interest for those in an around New York with a very interesting run down for the nights action.
Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Alex Pereira
Carla Esparza (c) vs. Zhang Weili
Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler
Frankie Edgar vs. Chris Gutierrez
Dan Hooker vs. Claudio Puelles
The Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler clash probably holds plenty of interest for many and in the build up to the New York event, 33 year old Poirer has been reasonably prominent in the media as they excitement builds for later this week.
In fact, Poirier has stated that he feels this upcoming main card clash of UFC 281 with Chandler could profoundly affect those around him. Former interim champion Poirier is more than aware that the winner of this clash could have title implications for the victorious party, but on a personal level he feels it could mean even more than that to him, particularly as he is just coming off a title shot defeat to Charles Oliveira.
Despite being one of the best MMA fighters at 155 for the last few years, Poirier has been unable to secure himself a title in his two tries so far, so Chandler is effectively his rebound chance at the first time of asking and then he will be hoping it is third time lucky as he looks to clinch a UFC belt.
Psychologically, he is framing it differently this time around though as he spoke with Heavy Sports – it is about getting back up after you have been knocked down, and showing that you have the maturity and bravery to deal with overcoming a loss, irrespective of the circumstances, and it is a message he wants to give as a role model to his family and in particular his daughter.
“This is a huge fight in my career. First of all, I’ve never lost two fights in a row in my whole career since an amateur, I’ve never lost two fights in a row. I want to prove to myself that I learn from mistakes, I get back to the grind, pick myself back up, and not only to myself, I want to prove to my family and for the fans, to my daughter that you can fall down and get back up and succeed. So, this fight for me personally, it’s very important for me to get a victory over another former world champion and add his name to my résumé and legacy.”
Whilst it has been a very respectful build up so far, fans should not forget this clash may have a little bit of spice to it as some bad blood developed leading into the bout where the two had an altercation at a UFC event prior to the booking of this clash.
Temperatures have cooled since and the respect has returned, but the fireworks may resume during further media obligations.
