Conor McGregor's talk has Dustin Poirier's attention; will that hurt Poirier?

LAS VEGAS – Dustin Poirier has a weakness, which he readily and openly recognizes, that makes him vulnerable in a fight against Conor McGregor.

They'll meet Saturday on the main card of UFC 178 at the MGM Grand Garden in a three-round featherweight fight that has largely overshadowed everything else on a very deep, intriguing card.

McGregor is a phenomenon the likes of which the UFC may have never seen before. After only three UFC bouts, he's established himself not only as one of the best talkers and self-promoters on the roster, but as among the finest in the history of the company.

Few have come as far as quickly and with as much fanfare as McGregor. Just 17 months ago, he was on welfare and cashed a check for about $235 shortly before he made his UFC debut.

A week later, he was $60,000 richer and on a rocket ride to Las Vegas. A little over a year later, he sold out the O2 Dublin and likely could have come close to selling out the 80,000-seat Croke Park for his bout with Diego Brandao.

McGregor is quick-witted and eager to chat up reporters and is never at a loss for something to say.

He referred to Poirier, who is 8-2 in the UFC and ranked No. 5 in the tough featherweight division, as "a quiet little hillbilly" during a fan question-and-answer session last month in Los Angeles.

McGregor has kept the insults up non-stop, referring to Poirier as a journeyman and questioning his chin, among other attributes.

Poirier has heard just about every word of it. Poirier's reaction is to want to erupt, to go after McGregor, to make him sorry they ever laid eyes upon each other.

His instincts tell Poirier to get into the ring on a seek-and-destroy mission, to try to hurt the cocky Irishman with everything he throws.

But Poirier has been in the fight game for an extremely long time. He's come to learn that he can't let his emotions control his actions.

So it's tough getting ready for McGregor. Poirier has the utmost belief in his ability to win the fight, but to do it, he'll have to remain poised, focus on his plan and fight within himself.

The last thing he needs, he concedes, is for the emotions to be bubbling over with the crowd going crazy and McGregor staring him down as the bell rings.

"I'm trying my best to just be calm and be smart and stick to the plan," Poirier said. "I've had a problem with that in the past, fighting too aggressively. I go out there and just try to take the guy out right away and I wind up putting myself in bad positions. I get hit with shots that I should have never gotten hit with because of that.

"This is a big high-profile fight and a big one in my career. I have to make the right decisions in this fight. I have to fight smart and use technique and not be over-aggressive. I have to find the right balance."

It's still early in the week and Poirier knows a lot could happen between now and fight night to throw him off. McGregor certainly is going to keep up the taunts, and he's no doubt going to be mobbed by the media.

Poirier's task is to be as low-key as possible, get in the last remaining bits of work and keep himself as relaxed as possible.

He's convinced he'll win, though he's not about to throw McGregor under the bus.

"He's good," Poirier said when asked about McGregor's abilities. "He's a good athlete with good instincts. He's a good fighter; a dangerous fighter. But when you're in the UFC, that's what you expect: Good, hard, tough fighters. Conor is one of those guys.

"But he's better at talking than he is at fighting, I'll tell you that. No doubt. For people to be saying he's a top-five fighter, I mean, that's just nonsense."

Poirier understands the significance of the fight. He's ranked fifth and won't get a title shot no matter the outcome of the bout. But if he loses, he's going to drop well back in the pecking order.

He won't admit as much, but it's virtually a must-win fight. Poirier concedes it would be prudent to win impressively.

"Every time I go out there, I try to show my warrior heart and spirit, and this fight will be no difference," said Poirier, who has won two Fight of the Night awards and a Submission of the Night in his 10 UFC bouts. "But it's very important. I need to go out there and fight to the best of my ability and finish with a dominant win."