Tag: fiveword

Khabib Nurmagomedov recently reflected on his title fight against Dustin Poirier and revealed what ‘The Diamond’ told him at the end of the first round. This came after Nurmagomedov expressed conflicting thoughts about defeating Poirier in the octagon and cornering Islam Makhachev against the former interim champion at UFC 302 last year.

For context, Nurmagomedov and Poirier went toe-to-toe in a lightweight title unification bout at UFC 242 in 2019, where the undefeated Dagestani submitted Poirier via rear-naked choke in the third round.

In a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Nurmagomedov revealed what Poirier answered when asked how he felt after the first round.

”After first round I tell him how you feel and he said, ‘nothing, you win first round.”’

‘The Eagle’ also discussed his experiences facing Poirier and coaching Makhachev for his contest against the Louisiana native, saying:

”Outside and inside cage? Inside was much better. When I was inside, I don’t have to talk. Only [a] couple of times I talk [to him]…But when I was outside with Islam [Makhachev], like, almost [for] 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.”

Check out Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s comments below (10:16):

Following his retirement from the sport in 2020, Nurmagomedov guided Makhachev to his first lightweight title victory, when the 33-year-old submitted Charles Oliveira at UFC 280.

Nurmagomedov is preparing Makhachev for his fourth title defense against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311 this weekend. The UFC legend is also helping his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov, who will challenge Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title in the co-main event.

Islam Makhachev claims Khabib Nurmagomedov stopped him from knocking out Dustin Poirier

Khabib Nurmagomedov was in the corner of Islam Makhachev when he defeated Dustin Poirier via last-round submission at UFC 302.

In a recent interview with Shakiel Mahjouri, Makhachev disclosed that he could have knocked out Poirier. However, Nurmagomedov apparently wanted him to focus more on wrestling than striking. Makhachev said:

”If he let me strike more in that last fight, I can knock him out, knock out Dustin. I go like one-two, one-two-three, and then, ‘Take him down, take him down,’ but he choose the easy way, you know, because the weakness from Dustin everybody know, his wrestling. But the last fight he defend very well. That’s why I use my striking more.”

Check out Islam Makhachev’s comments below (4:02):