35-year-old Dustin Poirier is currently one of the most talked about fighters in the UFC. The former interim champion is fresh off a knockout victory from his UFC 299 fight. He will now feature at UFC 302 and will be taking on Islam Makhachev next for the lightweight title. At 35 years old, many feel this might be the last opportunity for ‘The Diamond’ to get his hands on the belt.

He recently sat down for a chat with Shakiel Mahjouri before his clash at UFC 304. Talking about his mental preparations, Poirier gave a lot of credit to his former rival, which might surprise the fans.

Dustin Poirier credits Conor McGregor for reshaping his mental state

Most elite fighters in the UFC have a mix of skill and mindset which helps them reach the top level. 35-year-old Poirier is definitely one of the most skillful fighter, but he did have his share of mental problems. While speaking to the host of SHAK MMA, he gave huge importance to Conor McGregor and his trash, talking for making him mentally tough. After facing ‘Mystic Mac’ three times in his career, Poirier now feels he is ready to take on anyone. The 35-year-old revealed what exactly changed in his game and said, “It took me to a place where I quit caring about people’s opinions and the critics. You know, I think it helped me.”

‘The Diamond’ has always been an underdog in most of his fights in his career. This is exactly the case for his next fight at UFC 302 against Makhachev. However, he doesn’t feel any pressure at the moment and feels the Dubliner’s rivalry helped him get to this mindset. He said, “Because I don’t really care a whole lot about what people say anymore and I find strength in that leading up to this title fight where people are saying like I’m outgunned here. I’m outmatched and stuffs like that. Well, show me you know I’ll find out on Saturday night. That’s just the kind of mind space that put me in.” 

The battle at UFC 302 has already drawn a lot of attention from the fans. One of the biggest attractions of the fight is the contrasting fighting styles of both fighters. While Poirier is known for his striking ability, Makhachev, on the other hand, is a world class wrestler and has Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner. Having such a legend of the sport in your corner will definitely help the Dagestani win feels Henry Cejudo.

Henry Cejudo picks Islam Makhachev as the favorite for UFC 302

32-year-old Islam Makhachev is without a doubt one of the best in the business. A well-rounded game along with a fantastic team of coaches has helped the Dagestani reach new levels. Recent social media reports suggest that ‘The Eagle’ is back training the current champion. According to Cejudo, this will create a massive difference in his upcoming battle. He recently took to his ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast and picked his favorite for the clash. ‘Triple C’ said,  “I can completely see Islam dominating. Yeah, I can see Islam stopping him. I don’t think Dustin will get into the championship rounds.”

He then pointed out about the relationship between Makhachev and ‘The Eagle’. Cejudo made it clear that the former champion has already devised a plan in his mind to defeat Poirier and Makhachev will only follow it. He said, “Khabib’s already his controller. Like, whatever Khabib says, this dude’s doing. He is going to follow the blueprint of his, you know, quote-unquote, his brother. So, I don’t think Poirier gets into the championship rounds with his.”

While many feel Poirier is the underdog in the fight, one cannot neglect his last performance. A striker of his quality can end the fight with just one blow. However, he will have to find a way to get close to the Dagestani in order to knock him out. Who do you think will win the fight at UFC  302? Let us know about it in the comments below.