UFC 242 preview: Khabib Nurmagomedov v Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi
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By Simon Head
MMA writer
The UFC octagon has landed in the desert night because Abu Dhabi plays host on Saturday into UFC 242.
Because he faces champion Dustin Poirier at a title unification bout and the world champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is put for the main event.
The Russian has published a 27-0 record and completed Conor McGregor via fourth-round entry at UFC 229.
Regardless of his own unblemished record and notable displays throughout his UFC career, Nurmagomedov, 30, said he’s carrying the challenge of Poirier but admitted his plan isn’t any different for his past matchups because he looks to defend his title.
“Dustin Poirier’s a very challenging competition,” Nurmagomedov mentioned on Wednesday in the UFC 242 receptive workouts. “I do not wish to dismiss him. He has a great deal of expertise. But when I visit the cage, my plan would be to make him tired, allow him to tap. Here is my strategy.”
Nurmagomedov faces a surging competitor who thinks their principal event matchup signifies his crowning moment as a fighter.
30, america’s Poirier, heads to the octagon since the UFC interim champion, having defeated world champion Max Holloway in April and is in the type of his career.
Speaking in the open work outs underdog Poirier stated he’s ready to show the doubters wrong.
“I have had naysayers my whole life and defeat the chances,” he said.
“I’m only in the present time, appreciative of this chance and won’t allow it to slip through my hands. I am here to take advantage of this, capitalise and become the world champion.
“I have had courses in declines and picking myself off the ground. Being undefeated is extraordinary. It’s hard to do against the competition he’s [Nurmagomedov] . But I’ve learned lessons through error and succeed he’s never heard yet, through trial. There’s a thing about picking yourself up off the floor time and time again and still chasing your dreams.
“I just can’t be broken. I am not going to be broken. I am here to make history”
Additionally top are fighters that are lightweight that are high American Paul Felder and Edson Barboza, that face each other in an eagerly-anticipated rematch.
This fight has no bad blood or crap talk, together with Felder stating true fans of martial arts will love their strategy – along with the struggle.
“This is about martial arts for me,” Felder said at the open workouts.
“It is because I love everything I do. That is the way Edson is. I promise that’s what we’re likely to put on screen for you men, a war of martial arts and ethics.”
The two fighters at several points in their careers are set to face competitions.
Scotland’s Joanne Calderwood is seeking to push her promises with success over American contender Andrea Lee to get a shot at the women’s flyweight title in her UFC contest.
And Manchester lightweight Lerone Murphy will seem to spring a jolt when he chooses the team-mate Zubaira Tukhugov of Nurmagomedov about the first card card.
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