Dustin Poirier doesn’t mind being the underdog in the betting odds of his next fight. For “The Diamond,” such a moment pushes him to perform in the best way possible.
Poirier will face No. 12 Benoît Saint-Denis at UFC 299. The former interim lightweight formerly only preferred huge names in the roster, but the French fighter is one of the up-and-coming talents in the roster. At 28, “God of War” is already impressing the MMA world with his 13-1 record and being viewed as a threat to Poirier. In a recent betting odds report, Poirier was even considered the underdog despite being the veteran, and this is something the fighter doesn’t understand. Yet, for him, he would bet on himself if he could.
“I would bet on myself if I could, but unfortunately, I cannot,” Poirier said on The MMA Hour in his interview with Ariel Helwani. “That’s how I feel about it,” Poirier said. “I’m not sure (why I’m an underdog). Because I lost my last fight, maybe. I’m 35, he’s 28, and he’s finished five guys in a row. He’s finishing all of his wins in his career. Maybe that’s why, I don’t know.”
Despite all that, Poirier stressed that the odds are not bothering him. For the No. 3 lightweight fighter, it is actually an advantage for him.
“My whole life, I’ve been an underdog, Ariel. This is where I perform the best,” Poirier continued. “This is perfect.”
