Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev share a common UFC opponent.
UFC lightweight champion Makhachev’s most recent title defense came in a fifth-round submission of Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Nurmagomedov also holds a victory over Poirier, whom he submitted at UFC 242 in September 2019.
Nurmagomedov admits fighting “The Diamond” was a lot easier than cornering Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) again him.
“Outside and inside cage? Inside was much better,” Nurmagomedov told ESPN. “When I was inside, I don’t have to talk. Only a couple of times I talk with him. Inside the cage when I was with Dustin, a couple of times I remember I talked with him. After first round, I tell him how you feel and he said, ‘Nothing, you win first round.’
“But when I was outside with Islam, like, almost 25 minutes I was just talking. I cannot do nothing. I don’t like this, to be honest, but it was an amazing fight. It was an amazing fight for fans. Amazing finish in the fifth round and very good experience for Islam. Very, very good experience.”
Coach Javier Mendez called Poirier Makhachev’s toughest fight to date. Nurmagomedov thinks Makhachev can only grow from a back-and-forth battle such as that, which was a nominee for the 2024 Fight of the Year.
“Sometimes from a difficult fight, you take so much knowledge,” Nurmagomedov continued. “You can watch what you do, what you do wrong, way you can be better. There are so many things you can learn, and I think from this fight, Islam is going to learn a lot, and next fight we will see.”
Makhachev will look to surpass Nurmagomedov’s record for most lightweight title defenses when he fights Renato Moicano (20-5-1 MMA, 12-5 UFC) on a day’s notice in the UFC 311 main event. He was set to rematch Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in Inglewood, Calif., but Tsarukyan pulled out Friday.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
Fighting or coaching against Dustin Poirier: Khabib Nurmagomedov shares his thoughts
Khabib Nurmagomedov, the retired UFC lightweight champion, recently opened up about the challenges of facing Dustin Poirier in the Octagon versus coaching against him in a corner.
In an interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, Khabib detailed his experiences of both fighting and coaching against Poirier. He admitted that fighting Poirier was undoubtedly tougher physically and mentally, citing the high stakes and pressure that come with being inside the cage.
“When you’re fighting someone like Dustin Poirier, you have to be completely focused and ready for anything. He’s a talented and well-rounded fighter who can test you in every aspect of the game,” Khabib said.
However, Khabib also pointed out that coaching against Poirier presented its own set of challenges. As a coach, he had to strategize, analyze his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, and make split-second decisions that could ultimately determine the outcome of the fight.
“Coaching against Poirier requires a different kind of mental toughness. You have to be constantly thinking ahead, anticipating his moves, and guiding your fighter to victory. It’s a different kind of pressure, but equally as intense,” Khabib explained.
Ultimately, Khabib emphasized that both fighting and coaching against Poirier were demanding in their own ways. Whether inside the cage or in the corner, facing off against a skilled opponent like Poirier required unwavering focus, determination, and skill.
As for his future in the sport, Khabib has yet to announce any plans for a potential return to competition. In the meantime, fans can only speculate about what the future holds for the retired champion and his potential matchups against fighters like Poirier.
Tags:
Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dustin Poirier, UFC, MMA, fighting, coaching, training, difficulty, comparison, championship fight, lightweight division, mixed martial arts
#Khabib #details #fighting #coaching #Dustin #Poirier #harder
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.