Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Poirier vs. Johnson’

The American Top Team-Blackzilians rivalry will soon get its latest chapter, as Dustin Poirier takes on Michael Johnson in the UFC Fight Night 94 main event (current odds) on Saturday at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. Their showdown carries with it undeniable implications for the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division. In the middleweight co-headliner, former Ring of Combat champion Uriah Hall collides with the surging Derek Brunson in an intriguing three-round battle at 185 pounds. The rest of the six fight main card features a welterweight clash pitting Roan Carneiro against Kenny Robertson, a featherweight affair matching Chas Skelly with Maximo Blanco and a pair of lightweight tilts, as Evan Dunham meets former World Series of Fighting Champion Rick Glenn and Chris Wade entertains Islam Makhachev. Let us take a closer look at each UFC Fight Night “Poirier vs. Johnson” matchup, with analysis and picks:Lightweights Dustin Poirier (20-4) vs. Michael Johnson (16-10)THE MATCHUP: What a fight. The only disappointing thing about this bout is that a loss for Johnson would put “The Menace” on a three-fight losing streak. Then again, the indecisive loss to Beneil Dariush and the close-but-clear defeat to Nate Diaz could be all the motivation Johnson needs to get back on the winning track. The trouble is that Poirier is more well-rounded than Diaz and far more dangerous than Dariush. Poirier has crushing power in both hands and is more than willing to throw them. Though he was once a fairly straightforward striker with lackluster defense, Poirier has adopted a shifty style of footwork and …

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