UFC 242: Dustin Poirier Breaks Down into Tears After Khabib Nurmagomedov Defeat

Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Dustin Poirier lived up to the hype as history has been made in UFC 242 . In a monumental event in Abu Dhabi the phenom from Dagestan, Khabib Nurmagomedov put his title on the line against the UFC veteran, Dustin Poirier. Well, this main event was just as advertised, the biggest fight in lightweight history. The Russian Champion still holds his undefeated record with 28 wins.

It’s safe to say that, this was another mauling from the most dominating champion in MMA history, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Dustin Poirier only had a few moments of success at the beginning of the second round when he was trading strike with Nurmagomedov on the feet. However, the unbeaten champion took the fight to the ground again and did what he always does, which is break his opponent.

The fight started with both Nurmagomedov and Poirier feeling each other out and taking cautious steps to implement their game plan. However, game plans go out of the window when you are facing Nurmagomedov. He put relentless pressure from the beginning and took Poirier down again and again. Poirier showed good resilience in the first round on the ground, but it was just a matter of time for the fight to get finished.

In the third round, Nurmagomedov took Poirier down and finished him with a rear-naked choke. It can be said that the guillotine attempt by Poirier was not a wise move, in which he spent all the energy he had. However, what other options he had against Nurmagomedov on the ground? Poirier couldn’t get a single offense going on the ground with Nurmagomedov. 

It’s a tough defeat to swallow for Dustin Poirier. He has been knocked out before and he has dusted himself and got back up again to chase his dream, which is to be an undisputed UFC champion. He has tried to achieve that in two different weight classes. Poirier took the hard way to the top by grinding inside the octagon with former champions. And all that was for a piece of UFC glory. Well, the journey has come to an end atleast for now as Poirier accepts defeat in one of the biggest stages of UFC history.

 In his a post-fight interview, an emotional Dustin Poirier delivers a heartful message to his fans and the near ones. looking back at the fight, Poirier said:

“I mean I knew he was going to press. I knew I was going against the fence a lot. Just feel I let myself down. You know I did kind of prepare for this. I felt like my whole career set me up for this moment. Maybe there were times in there I could have done more.”

Poirier was heartbroken with the loss as he addressed the loss by saying:

“Now I got to wake up and look myself in the mirror every morning with this result. If anything adversities have taught me in the past it’s when times are good to be grateful and when times like this be graceful.”

What lies ahead of UFC 242 for the former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier? Well, Poirier is still unclear of that as he said:

“I’m gonna go home, spend some time with my family. It has been a long road. i am proud of everything I have accomplished in the sports. But right now I just need some time to think.”

Those who have been following Dustin Poirier’s UFC career from the beginning can attest to the fact that Poirier will get back into the octagon even after his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, can he climb the mountain again to be the undisputed UFC champion?

Well, now that the dust has settled we know what is ahead of UFC 242. The path for the current lightweight champion doesn’t get easier at all. The Boogeyman of the lightweight division, Tony Ferguson is waiting for him to take him to deep water inside the octagon.