Dustin Poirier believes that reigning UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev is best each on the bottom and on the toes than his mentor, Khabib Numragomedov.
On Saturday, June 1, ‘The Diamond’ will return to the Octagon for what may very effectively be the ultimate battle of his illustrious fight sports activities profession. Headlining the promotion’s return to the Prudential Cente in Newark, New Jersey, ‘The Diamond’ will problem Makhachev for the 155-pound crown within the UFC 302 important occasion.
With their extremely anticipated scrap a couple of brief weeks away, Poirier joined Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour to interrupt down his battle with the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ and the variations he sees between Makhachev and former light-weight titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I believe [Islam’s] submission sport, jiu-jitsu sensible, is a bit more versatile than Khabib,” Poirier mentioned. “Khabib had some chokes that he did rather well, however Islam’s placing himself in, you can say unhealthy positions, going for armbars. Perhaps he loses a place however he trusts his wrestling to get it again.
“I believe [Islam] is a bit of bit extra of a menace jiu-jitsu sensible and scrambles, however I believe his placing’s higher than Khabib’s.”
Dustin Poirier is aware of a factor or two about what it’s like being contained in the Octagon with Nurmagomedov. The 2 went toe-to-toe for the light-weight title almost 5 years in the past at UFC 242. Whereas ‘The Diamond’ hung in there longer than most, he would ultimately undergo ‘The Eagle’ by way of a third-round rear-naked choke.
Dustin Poirier reacts to Islam makhachev calling him an ‘straightforward battle’
Going 2-2 in his final 4 fights, Dustin Poirier’s journey to a 3rd light-weight title alternative was extra a matter of circumstance than the rest. Nonetheless, it will be silly to depend out ‘The Diamond’ contained in the Octagon. Sadly, that seems to be precisely what Islam Makhachev has already finished.
Throughout a latest interview with TMZ, Makhachev mentioned: “I’ve the important thing for the straightforward battle. And if I observe the plan, I can beat him straightforward.”
Reacting to the notion that he’s an “straightforward battle” for the Dagestani, Poirier warned Makhachev of what occurs while you underestimate one of many UFC’s most explosive strikers.
“I hadn’t been maintaining a complete lot however once I was on the fitness center, Mike Brown, he mentioned ‘Man, this man is perhaps underestimating your jiu-jitsu and underestimating how harmful you might be.’ I believe what he’s referring to is an interview of Islam saying that is a straightforward battle for me,” Poirier mentioned. “I used to be tagged in a bunch of stuff on Instagram and Twitter, that’s the place I see lots of the data of him saying that.
“I don’t know, possibly he goes about all fights like this. However, I can end and beat anyone at 155 lbs on the planet, I actually imagine that. He doesn’t must imagine it, I’m the one who has to imagine it and I’m the one who has to go on the market and beat his ass, and I can try this” (h/t BJPenn.com).
