Khabib Impressed By Dustin Poirier’s Recent performance, But Will “Maul Him Like I Do With Everybody.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov is currently serving a UFC 229 post-fight brawl is impressed by Dustin Poirier’s recent performance against Max Holloway at UFC 236 and believes ‘The Diamond’ has earned himself a shot at title unification bout against him.
Speaking at Saturday’s UFC St-Petersburg post-fight show ‘Eagle’ said talks are underway and we’re targeting a September return for this fight most likely at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi. (h/t MMAFighting)
“I think it was a very good performance from Dustin Poirier,” Nurmagomedov said on ESPN+. “Honestly, before the fight, I thought Holloway was going to beat him. This is my prediction when we talk with fans, with father, with team. But he impress me. Dustin impressed me.
“I think he has very good boxing, much better than before. Every fight, he becomes stronger and better in boxing, on his feet. And I think he deserves [the] title show. I think because he’s already interim UFC lightweight champion, I am real lightweight champion, we have to fight. And now we’re working on this.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov is undefeated in MMA with a professional score of 27-0. He joined the UFC back in 2012, and since then he’s leaping higher and higher. Russian holds notable wins over the likes of Al Iaquinta, Edson Barboza, Rafael dos Anjos and most recently submitted Conor Mcgregor at UFC 229, this fight broke all past PPV buys on box office.
Meanwhile, Poirier overcame all the obstacles on his way to capture the UFC gold recently. ‘The Diamond’ knows Khabib is a difficult matchup, but he’s some momentum on his side. He’s some impressive wins on his resume like Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje and Anthony Pettis. Poirier is 8-1 in his last ten fights.
Khabib has nothing negative to say about his upcoming opponent and said when Octagon doors close whenever they meet, he will have the same results as he had in his past fights.
“Long time, I follow him. He have very good background,” Nurmagomedov said of Poirier. “He have good ground game, not bad. He have good striking game. I follow him a long time. And, versus me? I think I have to maul him, like I do with everybody. This is what I have to do. I respect him like fighter, like human, but when we go to the cage, I have to maul this guy. This is what I want. And right now I’m focused on September, five months before fight, and I think it’s going to be very good fight with him.”
Share your thoughts who’ll emerge victoriously when two superstars meet inside the Octagon?
