Watch out, Conor Mcgregor. There’s a hot new Irish prospect in the UFC that’s making waves. “Irish Joe” Duffy – 14-1, 4 KOs, 9 SUBs – the last man to beat McGregor, will meet Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier – 18-4, 9 KOs, 6 SUBs – in the headlining bout of UFC Fight Night 76. Coincidentally, it was McGregor’s beating of Poirier that launched the superstar into elite status.
CURRENT ODDS
Our online UFC Fight Night 75 has already posted money lines for both fighters, with Duffy a sizeable -225 favorite. Poirier comes in a nearly 2-to-1 underdot at +175. Because the fight is still about a month away, these lines will likely shift as more gamblers thrown down. So if you like what you see right now, it’s a good idea to bet now due to our daily updates.
DUFFY DO RIGHT
Although Duffy is best known for his victory over McGregor, he’s quickly drawn acclaim inside the octagon. In his UFC debut, he captured a sensational first-round TKO from Jake Lindsay with a thudding body shot. Then he followed it up with a slick triangle finish of Ivan Jorge in the opening frame of their bout at UFC Fight Night 72.
Poirier is a 13-fight UFC veteran, yet is still only 26 years old. He debuted as a lightweight, dropped to featherweight and recently moved back to 155 after his loss to McGregor. He climbed into the top 10 at 145 pounds, but failed to secure a title shot after high profile losses.
It’s a bit surprising that Duffy is headlining a fight just two fights into his UFC career, but that just shows how much the brass loves his potential. It also helps that he’s fighting a former opponent of McGregor’s, creating a nice story for marketing purposes.
Since joining the UFC, Poirier has always been a well-regarded young fighter. For a fighter like Duffy, the Lousiana native offers the chance to earn a signature win. Beating an established veteran like Poirier would put the Irishman in a great position to lock up a bout against a top-10 guy.
EARLY BETTING ANALYSIS
My initial reaction is that Poirier is being way overlooked. While Duffy has looked spectacular in his two UFC appearances, he hasn’t faced anyone of Poirier’s caliber yet. Yes, Irish Joe looked like a killer in Cage Warriors and beat Conor McGregor, but that fight was nearly five years ago and the competition in that organization is substandard compared to the bright lights of the UFC.
I expect Poirier to become an even underdog in the following weeks because of Duffy’s hype. If he tops +200, I think you should take the plunge on the American.
HOW TO BET
Sign in to get the latest Duffy vs. Poirier odds. BookMaker Sportsbook offers daily updates to money lines, over/under, prop bets and more, so make sure to lock in your bets should you find a favorable wager. The bout takes place at UFC Fight Night 76 on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will be televised live on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET.
Don’t forget to check in during fight night to get live odds. During each fight, BookMaker Sportsbook updates their odds in real-time, so you can keep betting as each fight unfolds on live television. It’s a great way to hedge your bets should you fall behind. With our mobile platform, it’s never been easier to bet on UFC events.
