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‘Guillotine’ Hangs Over Islam Makhachev as Dustin Poirier Fires Back After UFC Champ Badmouths Him

Published 03/15/2024, 1:10 AM EDT

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Dustin Poirier has put Islam Makhachev on notice with a recent post on social media! ‘The Diamond’ is coming off an impressive victory at the recent UFC 299 event against Benoit Saint-Denis. During the build-up to the bout, many were concerned about Poirier’s chances against the dangerous French fighter, especially after his previous knockout loss against Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 in 2023.

However, Poirier shut down those who doubted him with a stunning performance that ended in a knockout victory for the Louisiana native. And now, he has his eyes set on the undisputed UFC lightweight title held by Makhachev as he made a bold call-out of the Dagestani champion on X!

Dustin Poirier warns Islam Makhachev to watch out for ‘The Guillotine’

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The fight between Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint-Denis was marked by multiple guillotine choke attempts by ‘The Diamond’. While the Frenchman was able to survive the grappling exchanges, Poirier ended up shutting his lights off with a beautiful knockout punch that ended the fight in the second round.

As such, in his recent post on X, Poirier referenced his use of the move to call out Islam Makhachev. He posted a GIF of an actual guillotine with the text, “To The Guillotine!!!” and captioned the post, “Islam”.

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His post aligns with statements made by many UFC experts after his incredible showing at UFC 299 which has put him at the front of the line for a shot at the 155 lbs title.

According to UFC veteran and commentator, Michael Bisping, speaking on his YouTube channel, “…because if somebody goes out there and gets a big victory, sets the arena on fire the way Dustin did, that can put you at the front of the line.”

Ali Abdelaziz, Makhachev’s manager, also agreed with Bisping’s statements as he posted the following statement on X after UFC 299, “Dustin vs Islam in June especially since everyone else has fights. If the UFC is good with this then Islam would be game.”

As anticipation builds for a potential showdown between Poirier and Makhachev, the champion has also made a bold statement about fighting ‘The Diamond’  soon despite considering him not ‘worthy’ of a title shot!

Islam Makhachev fires at Poirier for ‘undeserving’ shot at UFC LW title  

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is aiming for an active schedule in 2024. The upcoming UFC 300 card features pivotal clashes amongst the 155 lbs title contenders like Justin Gaethje vs Max Holloway for the BMF title and former champion Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan. As such, Makhachev has found himself amidst a dilemma concerning his proposed return to the cage in June.

Therefore, the Dagestani champion believes that Dustin Poirier is the only option available despite considering him not “deserving” of a title fight. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, he stated, “I know Dustin does not deserve the title fight, but we don’t have any option right now… Everybody is busy. I want to fight. I want to fight three times this year. I have to call out someone, and Poirier is free now.”

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Makhachev also revealed that his scheduling issues are impacted by Ramadan constraints and a minor injury that he sustained after his last fight at UFC 294 in 2023. In the interview, he also revealed his plans for the Poirier clash and stated, “He have a good guillotine. I will take him down, he will try the guillotine, and I will take his back and choke him. That’s it.”

In anticipation of a potential clash with Poirier, Makhachev remains confident in his grappling skills, and as the Dagestani champion navigates these challenges, fans eagerly await more developments on a fight that promises non-stop action between the two!

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What do you make of Islam Makhachev’s claims about Dustin Poirier not “deserving” a title fight despite his performance at UFC 299? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Written by:

Dushyant Patni

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Dushyant Patni is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. Dushyant brings 8 years of professional writing experience to his coverage of MMA at ES. This literature graduate excels in the coverage of both MMA-related and off-topic subjects.
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Edited by:

Joyita Das