UFC Calgary finally has its main event, and it’s a good one. I’ll give my thoughts on it in today’s MMA odds and ends.
Dustin Poirier vs. Eddie Alvarez 2, UFC on FOX 30
The headliner for the UFC’s long-awaited return to Calgary is nearly official. According to MMAFighting.com, a rematch between top lightweight contenders Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez will headline UFC on FOX 30, which goes down Saturday, July 28 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The two previously met at UFC 211 last May in Dallas, Texas, with the fight ending in a No Contest due to illegal knees to a downed opponent from Alvarez on Poirier. The fight was great, and both men have done nothing but win since then, setting up this rematch with a likely title shot on the line against current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Poirier (23-5, 1 NC) is currently riding a four-fight unbeaten streak and has gone 7-1, 1 NC since moving up from featherweight to lightweight. The 29-year-old American is coming off of an amazing TKO win over Justin Gaethje back at UFC on FOX 29 and prior to that had finished Anthony Pettis via TKO at UFC Fight Night 120. Alvarez (29-5, 1 NC) is coming off of a brutal KO win over Gaethje as well back at UFC 218. The 34-year-old American is 4-2, 1 NC overall since coming over to the UFC from Bellator and has been consistently fighting the top competition in the world. This is an amazing matchup between two of the best lightweights in the world. I’m expecting a very close line here, with a slight lean towards Alvarez due to his name value and the fact he is a former champion.
