Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Vegas Play of the Day: Dustin Poirier vs. Bobby Green at UFC 199

UFC on Fox 12

Jeff Chiu / AP

Bobby Green punches Josh Thomson during the first round of a lightweight mixed martial arts bout at a UFC event in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, July 26, 2014. Green won by split decision. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

We've reset the Play of the Day with fresh bankrolls and turned it into a yearly competition. Our three sports writers have re-started with $10,000 bankrolls to continue using on odds from the South Point.

Bobby Green plus-160 vs. Dustin Poirier: $625 to win $1,000

Dustin Poirier is one of the most exciting fighters in all of the UFC to watch. I’m just not sure he’s got the potential to rank among the top lightweights, as many have claimed since he moved back up to the division.

I’m always skeptical when a weight-class switch is heralded as the revitalization of a career off a small sample size. Poirier has won all three of his UFC bouts at 155 pounds, but let’s look at the competition — Joseph Duffy, Yancy Medeiros and Carlos Diego Ferreira.

All are solid fighters. None are as strong as Bobby Green, who was nearing title contention after winning his first four UFC fights before running into Edson Barboza.

He’s quite possibly the second-best fighter Poirier has ever faced, behind Conor McGregor, who beat him in less than two minutes. Green is exactly the type of fighter that could give Poirier trouble at lightweight.

He’s bigger so he can dictate where the fight is contested, and use that ability to wear down his opponent. Poirier might be more explosive and likely to get an early finish, but that advantage shouldn’t translate to being this large of a favorite.

In a close fight, give me the high-priced underdog.

Current Standings (as of July 1): Brewer (50-43-2, $11,375), Bern (34-40, $7,060), Keefer (50-59-2, $6,190)

Lifetime standings: 2014-15 Champion (114-114-1), Keefer (133-142-4), Brewer (118-129-4)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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