Islam
Makhachev is expecting an easy night at the office in his
upcoming title defense against Dustin Poirer.
Makhachev is scheduled to defend his lightweight title against
Poirier in the main event at UFC 302
on June 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. While
Makhachev acknowledges Poirier’s experience and elite striking, the
lightweight champ believes he’ll dominate “The Diamond” on the
ground. Makhachev’s mentor and teammate, Khabib
Nurmagomedov, ragdolled Poirier before submitting him in the
third round of their title unification clash at UFC 242 in
September 2019. Thanks to his own elite grappling skills, Makhachev
is expecting similar results.
“Dustin, he is a warrior, legend, and he have more than everybody,
experience in this sport,” Makhachev told TMZ Sports. “But his problem is his style. That’s one
problem this guy have. His weak point is wrestling and grappling.
And I have the key for the easy fight, and I think if I follow the
plan, I can beat him easy. My style and Khabib’s style, it’s worst
style for this guy, Dustin. People who can take him down, hold him
there, always give him problem.”
Makhachev was originally interesting in facing Justin
Gaethje, who knocked out Poirier last year to win the BMF
title, but “The Highlight” recently lost the strap against Max
Holloway at UFC
300 earlier this month. While surging contender Arman
Tsarukyan earned his right to a gold bid with a win over
Charles
Oliveira on the same card, he turned down a title shot against
Makhachev due to the quick turnaround. Given the circumstances,
Makhachev believes Poirier is the best opponent for his next
defense.
“Dustin is a good opponent because Oliveira, Arman [Tsarukyan], I
already beat these guys already,” Makhachev said. “My dream fight
for this division is Gaethje, but he lose already. Right now in our
weight, I think we just have Dustin because Arman say no, Gaethje
lose, Oliveira lose. We don’t have someone.”
Despite having never won a fight via a guillotine, Poirier is
notorious for attempting them at every opportunity, which has often
worked to his detriment against elite wrestlers. Makhachev will be
prepared if such a situation arises.
“Dustin, be ready and wrestling a lot. I defend my neck, I’m ready
for your guillotine,” he said. “It’s not happen in our fight, but I
will be ready.”
Makhachev’s next goal is to move up to welterweight to become a
two-division champion. While Max
Holloway’s recent BMF win will likely open up several options
at lightweight, a Makhachev matchup won’t be one of them as the
champ does not care about the BMF strap.
“Honestly, my dream fight is for the second belt [at] 170,”
Makhachev said. “I don’t know who is gonna be there. Now is the
champion we have Leon
Edwards. About BMF, I don’t need this belt. Because I don’t
know what is this belt, for what? And I [am] not under-estimating
Poirier because this guy’s a legend. He have better than everybody
striking, in my division, in this sport. I prepare myself for the
tough fight.”
