Oh, boy, where do I start? Islam Makhachev dropped a bit of a bombshell recently. He’s got this belief, right? He thinks his teammate, Usman Nurmagomedov, packs a better punch (or kick) than Dustin Poirier. Yeah, you heard that right.
Now, before we dive deeper, let’s set the stage. Makhachev is gearing up to defend his lightweight title. The showdown? It’s against Poirier, and it’s happening at UFC 302. Mark your calendars for June 1, folks. The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, is where all the action will unfold.
Here’s a juicy bit. Despite being in the same weight class, Nurmagomedov, the Bellator MMA lightweight champ, has been sparring with Makhachev. Talk about keeping it in the family, huh?
But here’s the kicker. Nurmagomedov only recently joined the camp. Yet, Makhachev spills that the moment Usman could, he was right there, giving Makhachev the rounds he needed. And not just any rounds. We’re talking quality sparring that made Makhachev sing praises of Nurmagomedov’s striking over Poirier’s.
Makhachev gushed about it on the “Weighing In” podcast. Imagine this: Usman, fresh off being under the weather, jumps back in and immediately starts dishing out top-notch sparring sessions. Makhachev was all praises, especially about Usman’s striking skills. He even threw in that old adage, “iron sharpens iron,” to describe their sessions.
Now, let’s not forget the backdrop here. Dagestani fighters are usually lauded for their grappling, but hey, they’ve shown they can throw down in striking too. Nurmagomedov? He’s knocked out eight opponents, though, yeah, a lot of those were on the ground.
But, plot twist – Nurmagomedov had to bow out of a title defense recently. An injury got in the way of his comeback fight in Bellator Paris. Plus, there was that whole six-month suspension drama after a failed drug test. Talk about a rollercoaster.
Makhachev isn’t just talk, though. He’s walked the walk, taking down Charles Oliveira and Alexander Volkanovski with some striking flair of his own.
Then there’s Poirier. “The Diamond” is no slouch in the striking department, having dispatched legends like Justin Gaethje, Dan Hooker, Anthony Pettis, Max Holloway, and Conor McGregor. So, when Makhachev says Nurmagomedov’s got better striking? That’s not just a throwaway comment. It’s a statement.
And there you have it. A little peek into the world of MMA where every punch, kick, and comment can set the stage for what’s to come. June 1 can’t come soon enough, right?