The evening’s Co-Main Event at UFC 299 promises some serious fireworks. Up-and-coming star Benoit Saint-Denis will take on veteran superstar Dustin “Diamond” Poirier. Without further ado, let’s get into our Dustin Poirier-Benoit Saint-Denis pick, odds and preview. Be sure to check out the rest of our UFC articles, including our full-card breakdown, and or our betting model’s top picks.
Dustin Poirier-Benoit Saint-Denis Pick, Odds and Preview
Poirier–Saint-Denis Odds
Odds via DraftKings
Weight Class: Lightweight
Poirier: +160 | Saint-Denis: -220
Poirier +5.5: +130 | Saint-Denis -5.5: -170
Over 1.5: -210 | Under 1.5: +160
Poirier–Saint-Denis Pick & Preview
In the Co-Main Event, Dustin Poirier (29-8) takes on Benoit Saint-Denis (13-1) in a classic generational battle. Saint-Denis is certainly a scary fighter for most, but Poirier is cut from a different cloth. I like Poirier as an underdog in this one to stifle Saint-Denis’ leap in competition.
Poirier’s last three losses came against Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira and Khabib Nurmagomedov, each of whom ranks among the best Lightweights of the last decade. It’s been seven and a half years since Poirier lost to a fighter outside of the upper echelon of the division. All this to say Saint-Denis hasn’t fought anyone near Poirier’s level, and, to come out with a victory in this one, he will have to prove he belongs near the top of the deepest division in the UFC.
Saint-Denis could be up to the task. He boasts a strong wrestling game with sophisticated striking, which his power makes all the more dangerous. In his UFC career, Saint-Denis has landed 5.53 significant strikes per minute while attaining 4.55 takedowns per 15 minutes of fight time.
Since his disappointing UFC debut, Saint-Denis has looked unstoppable, finishing each of his five fights — twice by submission and three times by knockout.
Keeping this streak alive won’t be so easy. Poirier is one of the toughest and most well-rounded fighters in the UFC.
If Saint-Denis wants to grapple, he opens himself up to a world of danger on the ground, as Poirier developed his submissions into a real strength. He is the only person who put Khabib in any danger, almost securing a guillotine victory against him.
Poirier’s striking is his main calling card. Landing at 5.49 significant strikes per minute at a respectable 50% success rate allowed him to knock opponents out in 10 of his 21 UFC victories. Combine his power and output with his ability to avoid taking the same amount of damage back – absorbing only 4.30 significant strikes per minute – and he is a handful for anyone to deal with on the feet. Saint-Denis can prove he’s the real deal with a win in this one. However, Poirier’s proven track record against the best fighters in the division has me backing him, particularly with the line against him.
Best UFC Poirier-Saint Denis Bet & Pick: Poirier ML +160 at DraftKings
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