The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns from a short break with a huge event featuring Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor and multiple main card events that will put mixed martial arts fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish. UFC 264 kicks off on July 10, at the T-Mobile Arena, and showcases a handful of heated matchups. More than that, the event includes eight ‘Prelims’ undercard bouts.

Let’s take a look at the main card events, which are headlined by the third Poirier vs. McGregor installment. NitroBetting makes it a point to bring you the latest event information, odds, and our very own predictions in this preview. Don’t forget to check out the rest of MMA odds and lines at our online crypto sportsbook.

UFC 264 Event Info

• When: Saturday, July 10, 2021, 10:00 AM ET (Main Card)
• Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
• TV: ESPN
• Live Stream: UFC Fight Pass

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UFC 264 Main Card Odds

UFC 264 Main Card Preview

Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor

American fighter Dustin Poirier made it even with Conor McGregor in January at UFC 257, ending the Irish superstar halfway through the second round. This was sweet revenge for Poirier after his first loss to the former two-weight world champion. And now, the trilogy is about to come to an end as the two featherweights meet.

The second installment of their fight saw a rather slow starting Poirier enter the ring, but once he settled in, he came out guns blazing and abused McGregor’s lead leg. This took a toll on the Irishman’s mobility and caught a flurry of punches along the fence. Now with a 6-1 record in seven fights, the 32-year-old Poirier steps into the main event with overflowing confidence and momentum.

Meanwhile, McGregor has some catching up to do. This is the first time in 5 years that McGregor recorded two appearances in a year. It was clear that he had difficulty taking on Poirier toe to toe, but it will be interesting to see what he’s been working on in the last few months of training. As it stands, ‘The Notorious’ is 3-3 in his last six fights and 1-2 since winning the lightweight title.

This is a fight to look forward to as the winner gets a chance to book a head-to-head with Charles Oliveira for a shot at the UFC lightweight title.

Gilbert Burns vs. Stephen Thompson

Originally lined up to challenge the welterweight titleholder last summer, Burns finally gets another opportunity to take the title after a close fight with champion Kamaru Usman. The 34-year-old Brazilian was holding onto six straight wins before ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ put the streak to an end. Nevertheless, this weekend’s fight against Thompson might give him a chance to line up a championship match.

Concurrently, Thompson had several breaks to take the welterweight title from Tyron Woodley a few years ago but failed to accomplish it. He’s been through motions of ups and downs, following a huge win against Jorge Masvidal and losses to Darren Till and Anthony Pettis.

However, the 38-year-old bounced back and earned multiple victories against Vicente Luque and Geoff Neal to put him back on the map. Like his opponent, this bout brings him a step closer to his championship aspirations if he produces a win.

Tai Tuivasa vs. Greg Hardy

Heavyweights sit in the middle of the main card as Tai Tuivasa faces Greg Hardy. The Australian collected two first-round finishes since returning to the octagon. Prior to that, he went through a rough patch, losing three straight fights before sitting out for more than a year. He takes on Greg Hardy, who currently holds a 7-3-0 record in the UFC.

There’s room for improvement for the former NFL defensive lineman, and this matchup against Tai Tuivasa allows him to gain more experience and eventually make his way to bigger fights in the future.

Tuivasa was once a threat to the big guns of the UFC before his three-straight losses, and Saturday introduces a break of redemption. Meanwhile, Hardy could use this contest as a channel to rank up by taking out the man who helped the MMA community grow.

Irene Aldana vs. Yana Kunitskaya

Aldana is on a roll, winning five of her six headings into the contest. The Mexican mixed martial artist walks into the octagon with a mission to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to Holly Holm last fall, and Yana Kunitskaya stands in her way. On the other hand, the 31-year-old Russian is on Cloud 9 as she earned decision wins over Julija Stoliarenko and Ketlen Vieira to improve her record to 4-1 since entering the UFC.

This is a clash of two of the top five bantamweights trying to improve their record in the division. The winner of the fight secures a ticket to take on champion Amanda Nunes as she is slated to defend her title in August against Julianna Pena. Ultimately, this leaves Aldana and Kunitskaya fighting over a window of opportunity to take the next title shot.

Sean O’Malley vs. Kris Moutinho

Crowd favorite bantamweight Sean O’Malley books his second fight of the year, looking to earn another explosive win as he faces Kris Moutinho. This was an unexpected lineup as his original opponent, Louis Smolka, suffered an injury several weeks before fight night.

It was Moutinho who took on the encounter despite the short notice. His career record improved to 9-4 after claiming two stoppage victories. The UFC rookie possesses an aggressive attitude in the ring, which makes his fights unpredictable and exciting.

At the other end of the stick is a talented 26-year-old trying to make more memorable moments in the UFC. If he can present another ‘Sugar Show’ performance, everyone is in for a treat. At the same time, Moutinho will try to replicate his previous matches and get the win to start his UFC journey on a positive note.

UFC 264 Expert Betting Predictions

Looking at the headlining fight, there’s little separation between Poirier and McGregor. Given their history and determination to get ahead in this trilogy, we are in for some of the most heated fights of the year. Although it looks like Poirier has the edge considering his recent results, there’s no question that McGregor is still one of the greatest at his best to come in as the favorite. But make no mistake, Poirier can turn this one around in an instant if the Irishman puts his guard down. At the end of it all, everyone is in for a treat once the rivalry continues in their third matchup.

Where to Bet on MMA with Crypto

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more MMA previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest MMA betting odds on our crypto sportsbook.