Dustin Poirier Says Win Over Khabib Nurmagomedov Makes Him Best Lightweight Of All-Time

Dustin Poirier is in search of history at UFC 242. In the main event, “The Diamond” is taking on the undefeated lightweight champion in Khabib Nurmagomedov. The Russian champion has only lost one round in his entire MMA career. So, if Poirier gets his hand raised he knows just what it would do for his […]

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Dustin Poirier is in search of history at UFC 242.

In the main event, “The Diamond” is taking on the undefeated lightweight champion in Khabib Nurmagomedov. The Russian champion has only lost one round in his entire MMA career. So, if Poirier gets his hand raised he knows just what it would do for his legacy.

“It’s huge. It’s history,” Poirier said to MMA Fighting. “When I go out there and beat Khabib, it’s not a question of am I the best UFC lightweight? It’s a question of am I the best lightweight to ever fight in mixed martial arts with the run I’m on.

Max Holloway, Anthony Pettis, Eddie Alvarez, Khabib Nurmagomedov, winning over those guys in a row in main events, over and over, that’s the best run in lightweight history.”

What would make things even better for Dustin Poirier is if he can finish Khabib Nurmagomedov. Which, “The Diamond” and his team say will happen.

“If I go out there and stop Khabib, I’m the best lightweight fighter to ever strap on a pair of four-ounce gloves. Simple and plain,” Poirier said. “I’m not wrong in saying it.”

Regardless of legacy, Dustin Poirier is just focused on the fight and looking to get his hand raised. He is more than confident in his skills and says this will be the start of the reign of him as champion.

“This is going to start the reign,” Poirier said. “This is the fight that gives me the undisputed title. But on the other side, this is the fight where I etch my name into the history books forever. Because of this win, I’m going to forever be a part of the best of the best of mixed martial arts.

“But I’m 30-years-old and I still feel like my best fights are ahead of me. I’m starting to hit my stride. This is the beginning of “The Diamond” reign.”

Do you agree with Dustin Poirier that a win over Khabib Nurmagomedov makes him the best lightweight of all-time?

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Tony Ferguson Gives Prediction For Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier

Tony Ferguson will be paying close attention to UFC 242. There, in the main event, lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, will look to defend his title against the interim champion, Dustin Poirier. It will no doubt be an interesting fight given the stakes, but also because of how good Poirier has looked as of late. The […]

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Tony Ferguson will be paying close attention to UFC 242. There, in the main event, lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, will look to defend his title against the interim champion, Dustin Poirier.

It will no doubt be an interesting fight given the stakes, but also because of how good Poirier has looked as of late. The interim champ is on a four-fight winning streak and a six-fight unbeaten streak (No Contest with Eddie Alvarez in 2017).

During this run, he has beaten all former or current champions in major promotions, with wins over Alvarez, Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, and Max Holloway. Yet, Ferguson believes his skills won’t be enough to beat Nurmagomedov:

“I see Khabib winning,” Ferguson told Helen Yee of Eyes on the Game. “I mean, Poirier’s got some very strong boxing. His forward pressure, I think Khabib is going to be able to slip and throw. I just think Poirier fights off the ropes. I think I’ve said that a couple times.

“And unless he does that real fast, it’s a bad habit to have, and you get punch drunk from that, and you get dropped. And with Khabib, he gets you on the ground, it’s game over.”

Should that happen, it seems likely that the Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov fight will finally happen. It has been a fight fans have been clamoring for, for quite some time. Whether or not Ferguson is right is to be seen. But, the oddsmakers agree with “El Cucuy,” as Khabib is the betting favorite.

UFC 242 goes down live on pay-per-view (PPV) from the du Arena in Abu Dhabi on September 7.

Do you think Poirier will be able to get the job done against “The Eagle” in Abu Dhabi?

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Dustin Poirier Doesn’t Need Khabib To ‘Gas Out’ To Win

UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier is confident he will emerge victorious against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Poirier is expected to challenge the lightweight champion in a title unification fight at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi on September 7. Despite an impressive win over Max Holloway to win the interim belt last month, many still see “The […]

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UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier is confident he will emerge victorious against Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Poirier is expected to challenge the lightweight champion in a title unification fight at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi on September 7. Despite an impressive win over Max Holloway to win the interim belt last month, many still see “The Diamond” as a huge underdog in this matchup.

There has also been a narrative that the best chance for him to win is for Nurmagomedov to slow down later on in the fight. However, Poirier believes he is simply the better fighter and is capable of ending it early on as well.

“There’s not like one thing that’s glaring at me that we need to work on it’s just my overall game and being a better fighter,” Dustin Poirier said on Below the Belt’s Food Truck Diaries with Brendan Schaub (via BJPenn.com). “We have to make holes by just performing out there. I will and can [get back up after being taken down]. I create space with my jiujitsu. I don’t think people know how long I’ve been doing jiujitsu. As long as I’ve been fighting – before I ever fought. I’ve been doing jiujitsu 14 or 15 years, I’m a black belt. I’m gonna create space with submissions and put him in danger and make him have to respect me and then I’ll get up.

“It’s gonna be a scrap but I’m gonna make him make mistakes and we’ll see what happens. If he slows down, it’s gonna go downhill for him. I think with my overall game, I can cause threats and problems for him early on as well. I don’t need him to gas out to win this fight.”

Poirier Will Beat The Odds

Poirier has opened as the betting underdog in four of his last six fights. He hasn’t lost any of them, however. He expects a repeat to happen when he and “The Eagle” eventually collide.

“Against all odds, I’ll get it done, man,” Poirier added. It’s the story of my life.”

The title unification fight is not yet official, but one can expect an announcement soon, especially with Nurmagomedov’s teammates being eligible to compete on the same card after their sentences were reduced.

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