UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is ready for title defense for the third time and this time he would go against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. This fight could be a tough challenge for Makhachev, but he’ll have the support of Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner. Having ‘The Eagle’ in his corner gives Makhachev an edge. However, it could also be a disadvantage for Dustin Poirier, considering their past encounter at UFC 242.

Nurmagomedov emerged victorious in that three-round fight and, as per ‘The Diamond’, the now 35-year-old knew everything during that bout.

Is Khabib Nurmagomedov aware of Dustin Poirier’s tactics?

It’s been almost five years since Dustin Poirier’s fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, ‘The Diamond’ still remembers every detail about the fight, and in a recent interview, he reflected on exactly what went wrong for him. Poirier was asked about the moment when Khabib Nurmagomedov took him off guard and what expectations he has while preparing for the rematch against Nurmagomedov, even if it’s indirectly.

The 35-year-old revealed that Nurmagomedov’s knowledge and skill were key to regaining dominant positions. He explained while speaking on the “Shak MMA” YouTube channel, “It’s hard to explain. Um, to put it into words is hard, but he just knew everything I needed to figure out what I had to do to get back in control, or at least a position where I could start defending myself and potentially launching some offense.”

“Ideally, I wanted to get back up against the fence, ” Poirier added while acknowledging Nurmagomedov’s expertise in foot sweeps, hand positioning, and weight distribution, praising him for his overall excellence. No wonder Dustin Poirier is revisiting his past fight with Nurmagomedov. It could be a valuable tool against Islam Makhachev as both the Dagestani fighters trained under Khabib’s father and now ‘The Eagle’ has taken the 32-year-old under his wings.

Poirier further mentioned, “There are so many small fights going on in the big fight that make a high difference in those grappling positions. I just have a better understanding of it now.” Furthermore, the beauty of MMA lies in its being a two-sided battle. Fighters respect each other’s strengths, unlike any assumptions about underestimating opponents.

Dustin Poirier acknowledges Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev’s skills. Similarly, ‘The Eagle’ also recognizes Poirier as a danger.

Nurmagomedov’s verdict on Poirier vs Makhachev

Islam Makhachev aims to continue his dominance in the UFC lightweight division after UFC 302. In pursuit of this dream, he receives invaluable support from former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is coaching his friend for the upcoming tough fight against Dustin Poirier.

During his reign, Khabib Nurmagomedov remained at the top of the lightweight division until his retirement. He fought and defeated Dustin Poirier, whom he still considers a dangerous fighter with immense strength and power. In a recent YouTube video uploaded on his channel, Nurmagomedov stated, “We have great respect for Dustin, but on June 1st, he is our opponent. We have a clearly developed plan for the fight, and I believe Islam will follow it.”

He mentioned in the video that he’s analyzed everything from his fight with Poirier, including the nearly 10 minutes they spent grappling in the third round. This knowledge will probably help the fight plan they’ve developed for Islam Makhachev for June 1st. Who do you think will emerge victorious? Share your thoughts in the comments below.