Whilst Islam Makhachev claims he’s not underestimating Dustin Poirier, the UFC lightweight champ is certain that he’s already got a winning gameplan.
The UFC lightweight title is set to be defended in just a few weeks at UFC 302, and whilst fans are preparing themselves for another hotly contested bout at the top of the 155lb tree, champion Islam Makhachev says it’s all about exploiting one key witness.
Dustin Poirier steps up to face Islam Makhachev at UFC 302
Dustin Poirier catapulted himself back into title contention after his stunning comeback KO of Benoit Saint-Denis back at UFC 299. Then, in the immediate aftermath of UFC 300, contender Arman Tsarukyan declined a title fight offer due to the lack of time needed to prepare for the dominant champion.
The situation, as complex as it has been entertaining to watch unfold, has resulted in ‘The Diamond’ getting his second shot at the undisputed 155lb title, having previously been defeated by Makhachev’s friend and teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Poirier will face the Dagestani wrestler in the main event of UFC 302, scheduled to go down on June 1 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey – but if the champion is to be believed, the fight might have already been won by the time the cage door locks behind them.
Islam Makhachev says Poirier’s problems are of his own making
Speaking via the TMZSports YouTube channel, UFC champion Islam Makhachev noted that whilst Dustin Poirier has already cemented his legacy in the sport as one of the greatest lightweights of all time, his issues with capturing undisputed glory are also of his own making:
“Dustin, he’s already a legend and he has more experience than everybody in this sport, but his problem is his style. Just one problem this guy have; his weak point is his wrestling and grappling.”
“I’m not underestimating Poirier because this guy is a legend, and he can beat anybody. He has better striking than everybody in my division [or] in this sport. That’s why I prepare myself for a tough fight.”
Yet Makhachev also claimed that the June 1 contest won’t be much of a contest at all, as long as he remains disciplined: “I have the key for the easy fight, and I think if I follow the plan, I can beat him easy.”
“My style and Khabib’s style is the war style for Dagestan, people who can take him down, hold him there,” noted the current 155lb king, who was also in Khabib’s corner for when ‘The Eagle’ faced Poirier back in 2019 – this wrestling-heavy style, “it’s always given him problems.”
When asked if he had one final message for ‘The Diamond’, Makhachev again brought up the submission game: “Dustin, be ready – you wrestle a lot and I defend my neck, I ready for your guillotine, that’s not happening in our fight, but I will be ready.”
Makhachev vows to silence Tsarukyan once and for all
Should Makhachev get his hand raised on June 1 in the main event of UFC 302, his next opponent should be either BMF title holder Max Holloway or more likely, surging contender Arman Tsarukyan.
In the past few weeks, Tsarukyan has been vocal on social media about his desire to rematch Makhachev on a full training camp, although the champion doesn’t buy his reasoning:
“I don’t know what this guy needs because the day I beat him, he keeps talking about me but when UFC told him ‘Hey this is your chance, take the fight’, he said no maybe three times. I will give him his chance after the next fight, and he’ll never talk about me again.”
Whilst Makhachev is never one to shy away from a challenge, the Russian wrestling machine did note that prior to UFC 300, his dream opponent was ‘The Highlight’:
“Dustin is a good opponent because Oliveira and Arman, I beat these guys already. My dream fight for this division was Gaethje, but he lost already, but right now in the position in the weight class, we just have Dustin.”
Dustin Poirier vs Islam Makhachev is the main event of UFC 302, scheduled for June 1.