UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has laid out his strategy against Dustin Poirier in their lightweight title fight at UFC 302.
Makhachev is set to defend his title against Poirier at UFC 302. Given his dominance inside the cage, the Dagestani is a heavy favorite heading into the fight, but many believe ‘The Diamond’ will put his heart and soul into winning the title since it is potentially his final chance to claim UFC gold.
Despite the risks posed by his opponent, Makhachev remains confident in his abilities, firmly believing he is superior to all others in the lightweight division. In fact, the Russian is so confident that he has even shared his strategy.
“We will start and I will try to take him down,” Makhachev told Yahoo Sports. “He will try to get me in a guillotine [choke]. I will defend the guillotine. I will give him a couple punches. He will give his back. Then I will finish. One day maybe, I hope [Poirier] will finish his guillotine on someone. But it’s not going to be me.
Makhachev was also asked about defending his belt against Max Holloway, who recently won the BMF belt, but the Dagestani doesn’t seem interested in the matchup.
“I have some job in this division,” Makhachev said. “I don’t want to give some chance to people from the other division, I already gave Volkanovski two chances. Now I need my chance for a second belt. In my division I think, honestly, I have Dustin and then Arman and then I’m done. We don’t have some new opponent who deserves a title fight. Then I will be ready to fight the champion at 170 [pounds].”
Who will think will win the lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier at UFC 302?
