Dustin Poirier takes his third stab at changing into undisputed light-weight champion when he faces Islam Makhachev within the UFC 301 primary occasion on Saturday.
The title battle occurs just below 5 years faraway from Poirier’s first crack on the belt, which got here in opposition to Khabib Nurmagomedov again in 2019. That battle ended when Nurmagomedov secured grappling superiority over Poirier and locked in a rear-naked choke to complete the job within the third spherical.
Now Poirier has to determine how one can get previous Makhachev, a fighter usually in comparison with Nurmagomedov. Contemplating they’ve been teammates and coaching companions all through their whole careers, and each make use of a ground-heavy fashion to maul most of their opponents, it’s an comprehensible parallel.
Mike Brown, who coached Poirier in opposition to Nurmagomedov and can do the identical for the Makhachev battle in June, understands why the Russians may look like mirror photographs of one another, however he guarantees that’s not precisely the case.
“Related types, however the methods they use are fairly completely different,” Brown advised MMA Combating. “I feel Islam makes use of much more higher physique journeys and Khabib took much more pictures. I feel Islam’s putting seems perhaps sharper, seems cleaner, but it surely’s to not say Khabib’s putting wasn’t efficient. Typically he was perhaps a bit of unconventional, however he wasn’t a foul striker.
“There’s been occasions the place [Nurmagomedov] was criticized however he was successful. The well-known case when he was sort of criticized within the Al Iaquinta battle, however he was successful these rounds putting though it sort of appeared a bit of unorthodox. That’s just a few guys’ fashion. Not all people fights the very same approach. There are variations.”
Brown acknowledges that the last word aim for Nurmagomedov and Makhachev usually ended the identical, with a takedown adopted by vicious ground-and-pound, a number of submission makes an attempt, or typically each.
That a lot is true, however Brown received’t take a look at Makhachev by means of the very same lens he did for Nurmagomedov.
“Similarities of their sport plan, the place for probably the most half, they’re trying to take you down and maul you for 5 rounds,” Brown stated. “They each have actually good conditioning and so they’re good at it. However how they do it’s a little bit completely different.”
As a result of Poirier got here up brief in two earlier bids at changing into undisputed champion, and now approaches his thirty sixth birthday subsequent yr, many imagine this could possibly be his remaining alternative to say a UFC title.
It’s unattainable to foretell that with any stage of certainty, as a result of even Poirier would probably admit he most likely didn’t count on a title shot after falling to Justin Gaethje by knockout again in July 2023, after which beating a lower-ranked opponent in Benoit Saint Denis in March.
Brown acknowledged that Poirier’s lifetime achievements probably performed a component on this specific alternative, however that’s not essentially a foul factor.
Previously 9 years since changing into a light-weight, Poirier has earned 11 post-fight bonuses, together with seven for Combat of the Evening. He’s headlined 11 completely different occasions, together with six pay-per-views.
Poirier has additionally remained one of the in style and well-liked fighters on the complete roster, which positively counts for one thing.
“No person deserves it greater than this man,” Brown stated. “He’s put within the time, he’s put within the miles. He’s executed the work. Battle-tested, one hundred pc in opposition to the hardest guys. Probably the most world champions that I feel anyone’s ever fought. This man has fought the who’s who of the light-weight division, the featherweight division.”
With solely a few weeks remaining till the battle occurs, Brown is aware of Poirier is pouring all the pieces into his preparation, and he expects this would be the second when the Louisiana native can lastly have fun changing into an undisputed UFC champion.
“Third time’s the attraction,” Brown stated. “He’s acquired nothing to lose and I feel that he’s very assured. He’s very harmful. Each time he steps on the market, it’s 25 hard-hitting minutes. This man is available in form, he’s acquired a number of the finest conditioning I feel within the sport. He hits arduous as hell. He’s acquired a wealth of expertise. A wealth of title expertise, five-rounders.
“This man is prepared. This man is prepared for any fashion, any physique sort. He’s seen all of it, and most of the time, he’s popping out on prime. We’ll see which aspect the coin lands on, however this man wins a number of them.”
