Poirier threatens Makhachev: “I’m going to knock him unconscious”
The American predicted his fight with Islam Makhachev for the lightweight belt on June 1 at UFC 302.
Dustin Poirier will go all in against Islam Makhachev. The Russian will defend his lightweight title on June 1 at UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey, against The Diamond, fourth in the rankings. After underestimating the American on several occasions, Poirier revealed his prediction on Yahoo! Sports: “I’m going to knock him unconscious and the ref is going to be pulling me off of him.”
Poirier is a king without a crown. He is one of the most beloved veteran fighters in the UFC, but he has never won the official belt (he was the interim lightweight champion). He fought in two title clashes but lost both times. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveria submitted him in the third round. Makhachev has underestimated him, saying he doesn’t deserve to fight for his belt.
Makhachev, confident against an angry Poirier
“Dustin Poirier has finished McGregor twice. You can’t sleep on Dustin Poirier,” the former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman warned Makhachev some days ago.
Despite the Nigerian’s warning, Makhachev answered by saying the Irishman was a nobody when he fought him, and every time The Diamond fights for the belt, he gets submitted. In addition, he remains confident because he’s Khabib’s disciple, who beat him in a title fight in September 2019.
The American became a title contender again after knocking out the promising Benoit Saint-Denis in the second round in March. At that time, the fighters ranked above him had already scheduled fights. Oliveira and Tsarukyan, first and second on the list, faced each other at UFC 300 (April 13), and Justin Gaethje, No. 3 in the rankings, did so with Max Holloway, former featherweight champion. Makhachev, who wanted to defend his belt, ran out of options and Poirier was ready, so they agreed to fight.