Max Holloway🇺🇸 (26-8) uses great cardio, footwork, an upright stance, stance switches, pivots, and lateral movement to get opponents against the cage or at least an uncomfortable spot where he trusts his head movement and shoulder feints to set up his high volume combinations that include accurate jabs, hooks, check hooks, uppercuts, body shots, spinning back kicks to the body, front kicks, side kicks to leg, high kicks, and low kicks. Things I don't like about this matchup is that in close distance he can get stuck brawling and even though I trust his counters I don't like the potential onslaught of Dustin's combinations and leg kicks. I'm very excited to see full camp Max back at Lightweight because he is still making improvements. Adjustments made post Poirier rematch relevant to this matchup are that he punishes level changes with overhands, makes opponents overextend by slipping their counters then countering himself, and feints strikes like jabs against Gaethje then punished him during entries. Also, yes, he has good submission defense if you are wondering if Dustin will go for the gilly, lol. Dustin Poirier🇺🇸 (30-9) from Southpaw uses his jab to gauge distance along with head and shoulder feints that draw counters where he can slip shots then use his combinations in volume that include multiple angles with crosses, straight lefts, left hooks, shifting overhands, uppercuts, body work, elbows, and knees. Some factors that are important for this matchup, he can fight from multiple stances, has the power advantage, and has a great ability to lure an opponent into a brawl which is exactly what he needs in this fight. Max also has a tendency to back up and give up space, which has led to him being touched by Rodriguez, Allen, and Zombie. Because of this, I think Poirier may almost be given free lands in exchanges where he's pressuring and could even hurt him. Dustin is more aggressive in the pocket (swarming whenever he hurts opponents) and does better at returning fire after blocking and slipping punches. One thing I'm curious about is if he has improved how when pressured, he backs up, which could get him where Max wants, against the cage. The potential most important factors are that Dustin implements teep, front, and low (specifically calf) kicks into his game which could slow Max. My pick is Holloway (RD4 TKO), I see him attacking the body, setting traps, capitalizing on Dustins entries, then countering a overhand, finishing him.