Islam Makhachev is gearing up to defend his lightweight title at UFC 302, and while he has a lot of respect for his opponent Dustin Poirier, he believes he will easily come out on top in the fight.
Makhachev sees Poirier as the same fighter who faced his friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov back in 2019, with the only difference being Poirier is now five years older. Despite his admiration for Poirier, Makhachev is confident in his abilities and believes he is on a different level as the best fighter in the world.
The Russian fighter acknowledges Poirier’s striking abilities but is confident that his own skills as an MMA fighter will give him the upper hand in the fight. Makhachev also revealed that Nurmagomedov will be returning to his corner for the upcoming fight, adding an extra advantage to his game plan.
Makhachev credits Nurmagomedov as an incredible coach and is grateful for his mentor’s return to his corner. He believes Nurmagomedov’s presence will give him an additional edge in the fight.
While Makhachev expects a dominant win over Poirier, he hopes that his opponent does not retire after the fight, as he sees Poirier as one of the biggest names in the sport. Makhachev is looking forward to adding Poirier’s name to his list of victories and solidifying his own legacy in the sport.