Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has offered his support to opponent Dustin Poirier ahead of their world title fight this weekend at UFC 302.
Fan favorite veteran Dustin Poirier has already admitted that he’s seriously considering walking away from MMA, regardless of whether he leaves the Prudential Center this weekend at UFC 302 with the lightweight title over his shoulder.
Islam Makhachev doesn’t want to see ‘The Diamond’ call it quits after UFC 302
Speaking to Stephen Deaugustino via the NBC Sports YouTube channel, Islam Makhachev noted that despite all of the talk surrounding Dustin Poirier retiring from MMA regardless of the result at UFC 302, he doesn’t want to see ‘The Diamond’ hanging up the gloves just yet.
“[Dustin] is old, he’s talking about retiring but I don’t want [him to] retire after this fight, if I beat him,” the UFC lightweight champion stated, explaining how Poirier should only call it quits when he’s no longer an elite athlete – which is certainly not the case heading into UFC 302 this weekend:
“Because this guy is dangerous, he can beat everybody, he’s like top five in the world [and] I don’t think it’s a good idea for him talking about [becoming] retired because he’s still a very dangerous guy and that’s why I am preparing very hard for him.”
Poirier himself has been teasing that he’ll earn the lightweight title by way of guillotine choke, with the submission having become somewhat of a meme following the repeated attacks during the Benoit Saint-Denis fight.
Yet, Makhachev is potentially eyeing some poetic justice to those predicting a Poirier-submission upset, hinting that he might have to finish the fight himself with ‘The Diamond’s new signature submission:
“I said in one interview [that] it’s going to be some surprise, we’ll prepare something, but we will see – First of all, I have to defend his guillotine, and maybe [after] I show him how to do a right guillotine.”
Heading into UFC 302, Makhachev has 25 wins as a professional with 11 of those victories coming by way of submission.
Makhachev is eyeing just one more fight for 2023, but it’s a big one
The upcoming clash at UFC 302 against Poirier will be Makhachev’s first outing in 2024 and if all goes to plan on Saturday evening, the champion is expecting to make just one more appearance this year.
Makhachev teased “Maybe it’s going to be in November, but we will see,” as he explained his longing to compete at the world’s most famous arena, MSG.
“Honestly, it’s my dream to fight at Madison Square Garden because it’s a big arena; many years ago, when I saw Tyson fight there, high level boxing guys and now it’s beginning [to] make MMA events there – that’s why I want to fight there.”
The UFC hasn’t officially confirmed a return to the iconic arena for November 2024, with the New York PPV being a staple of the schedule for the past few years – but who could Islam face at The Mecca?
“Of course, I’m just thinking about my next fight and it’s not my job thinking about the future because I have a manager, team, the UFC make the decision – whoever they put against me, I will be ready.”
That being said, there were still only two names on Makhachev’s mind as to who his next opponent after Poirier could be: “If it’s going to be Arman [Tsarukyan], or if it’s going to be Leon [Edwards], or going to be something, someone else then I’ll be ready.”
Makhachev previously teased that he’ll soon be making his long-awaited move up to welterweight, with champion Leon Edwards set to defend his title at UFC 304 in July.