Sealing Dustin Poirier’s Fate, Khabib Exposes Islam Makhachev’s “Clearly Developed” Plan for UFC 302

Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed that they have a clear plan for dealing with Dustin Poirier after joining Islam Mahachev‘s camp ahead of their UFC 302 clash. The former champion, who fought ‘Poirier’ at UFC 242 in 2019, managing to defeat him in the third round after being caught in a guillotine by a New Orleans native, also expressed his respect and regard for the UFC legend.

In a video on his official YouTube channel ahead of Makhachev vs. Poirier for the lightweight title on June 1, ‘The Eagle’ felt that Poirier’s experience (he has fought thirty times in the UFC alone), and battle-tested character would be a challenge for his friend, and the reigning champion, who will defend his title against a fellow 155-pounder for the first time against ‘Diamond’.

However, Nurmagomedov revealed that based upon his experience with Poirier and the latter’s fighting style, Makhachev’s team had a carefully crafted game plan, which he hopes will be enough to get the New Orleans native out of the octagon in the first two or three rounds.

“We have a great respect for Dustin, but on June 1st he is our opponent. We have a clearly developed plan for the fight, and I believe Islam will follow it. I really hope that Islam will finish him off in the second or third round,” he said.

While he pointed to a game plan that he wants Makhachev to follow against Poirier, Nurmagomedov did not divulge any secrets about what the game plan actually was. And while some may think that the game plan, given the strengths and weaknesses (and indeed Makhachev’s own comments), may be an obvious one: grappling. But, that may not be the case given the wily Dagestani’s recent record.

What could be Islam Makhachev’s game plan against Poirier?

Islam Makhachev is expected to take Dustin Poirier down and finish him there using his excellent grappling skills. Poirier, among the greatest strikers in UFC history, sadly has an acute lack of a ground game, despite his almost thirteen-year stint in the world’s largest, most competitive MMA promotion.

On the other hand, the fact that ‘Diamond’ has managed to fight the top guys in the UFC’s toughest division for over a decade despite his nonexistent grappling skills is also testament to how dangerous of a striker Poirier is.

And even Islam Makhachev, in a recent interview, had said that he would use his superior wrestling to finish the New Orleans native on the ground. However, Makhachev fought another historically great striker, with whom he was expected to grapple in Alexander Volkanivski at UFC 294 last October.

However, the Dagestani stunned everyone by catching the Australian with a devastating and expertly set-up head kick, demonstrating the strides he has taken in his stand-up since joining the promotion in 2015, when he was another excellent Dagestani grappler without much striking ability.

The most dangerous punches, as they say, are the ones you don’t see coming. The same goes for game plans. If one can catch the opponent by surprise and has the ability and discipline to pull it off, that is. And Makhachev, given his current form, seems more than capable of knocking anyone at lightweight out on his feet. Which is why it would not be surprising if the Dagestani’s game plan is to set up ‘Diamond’ and surprise Poirier with a thunderous strike, as he did against ‘Volk’, and indeed Charles Oliveira at UFC 280.