One UFC 318 fighter convinced Khabib Nurmagomedov that he didn’t need to make a major career change.
Saturday’s pay-per-view will have considerable eyes on it as one of Nurmagomedov’s toughest former opponents makes the walk one last time.
Dustin Poirier will retire at UFC 318, an event in his home state that will conclude with ‘The Diamond’ challenging Max Holloway for the symbolic BMF title.
Among those looking to make the most of their position on Poirier’s retirement card is the always-game Dan Ige, who comes up against his latest prominent opponent in Bellator legend Patricio Pitbull.
The Brazilian will join a list of high-profile names Ige has faced at 145 pounds, but had Nurmagomedov gotten his way with the American, that would not have been the case.
- READ MORE: Dustin Poirier reveals if he would box Jake Paul after UFC 318 retirement… ‘He’s a lot bigger’
Dan Ige was told to drop down to bantamweight by Khabib Nurmagomedov
During an interview with Yahoo Sports ahead of his first main event against Calvin Kattar in July 2020, Ige reflected on his UFC success up to that point.
‘50K’, who sits under the same management banner as the likes of Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, Kamaru Usman, and Kayla Harrison, had won six straight fights since a UFC debut defeat to Julio Arce.
That featherweight streak was evidently not something foreseen by Nurmagomedov.
While discussing his experience training with ‘The Eagle’, Ige revealed that the Dagestani had actually urged him to move down to bantamweight before he convinced Nurmagomedov otherwise with his performances inside the Octagon.
“He praises me, but he also offers his criticisms,” Ige said.
“After my first loss in the UFC, and even after my first win, he was telling me, ‘You have to go to 135 (pounds), brother.’ I said, ‘No, I don’t.’ I have to tell him. I feel strong. I feel good. I train with beasts who are strong and I more than hold my own.
“As I started winning more and more, he started becoming more impressed,” Ige continued. “Having him show me that kind of appreciation for what I do and that respect, it can’t help but build your confidence, hearing it from the best guy in the world.”
Dan Ige has lost seven of his last 12 fights ahead of UFC 318
Unfortunately for Ige, he has not been able to kick on in the years since.
‘50K’ was outpointed in his next fight by Kattar and has only won back-to-back contests once across his subsequent 11 appearances.
While brutal knockouts against Gavin Tucker, Damon Jackson, and Andre Fili showed what Ige is capable of at 145 pounds, defeats to the likes of ‘The Korean Zombie’, Josh Emmett, Movsar Evloev, and Bryce Mitchell have stalled his planned rise to the title.
Now, having most recently returned to winning ways by stopping Sean Woodson at UFC 314 this past April, Ige will look to begin a winning streak against a high-profile name in Pitbull this Saturday.