Khabib Nurmagomedov was known for his relentless pressure and ‘mauling’ his opponents inside the cage, and it appears he has carried the same mindset to Islam Makhachev’s training camp for UFC 302! The reigning UFC lightweight champion is gearing up to take on Dustin Poirier at the June 1 card in the main event of the night. The fight will mark Makhachev’s third title defense in the UFC, and with a win over ‘The Diamond’ he has a shot at tying ‘The Eagle’s record and carrying his legacy forward.

As such, in a recent update shared on Nurmagomedov’s YouTube channel, Makhachev indicated that his friend and mentor joined his training camp which may have caused some “disruption” for the team. Nevertheless, it appears that all is now well with Team Khabib as they shared another update from their training sessions.

Islam Makhachev’s training camp proceeding without a hitch despite Khabib Nurmagomedov’s ‘disruption’  

According to the video shared on YouTube, training under Khabib Nurmagomedov’s watchful eye is no easy feat. Makhachev stated, “We were there for more than two weeks. Khabib came to the camp slightly disrupting the start and, without any acclimatization, we immediately began training.”

However, according to ‘The Eagle’, “I was pushing them. I just came back for the next five days. For me, it’s gonna be fun days; for them, it’s gonna be very hard days”.  This level of preparation underscores the seriousness of Makhachev’s upcoming fight as he has been pushed to the limit by Nurmagomedov who had left his coaching duties behind after Makhachev secured the title to spend more time with his family.

Nevertheless, his presence has been invaluable in the camp as Nurmagomedov has also fought Poirier for his second title defense at UFC 242 in 2019 where he choked ‘The Diamond’ out in the third round of their fight to secure his victory.

And in a recent update shared on Instagram by a member of ‘Team Khabib’, Islam Makhachev was hard at work on the pads with coach, Javier Mendez, and the video was captioned, “Everything going very well.”

As UFC 302 approaches, the anticipation builds with Makhachev’s rigorous training, coupled with Nurmagomedov’s mentorship, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter. And on the other side, Dustin Poirier has made a bold prediction for his third attempt at securing the elusive undisputed lightweight title!

‘The Diamond’ wants to leave no doubts in anyone’s mind at UFC 302

Dustin Poirier is determined not to leave his fight against Islam Makhachev in the hands of the judges. And a quick glance at his UFC record shows that since his fight against Dan Hooker in 2020, none of Poirier’s fights have gone to decision. Notably, he has secured victories against Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler, and Benoit Saint Denis, all via finishes.

As such, in an interview with Yahoo Sports, the Louisiana native stated, “I’m going to knock him unconscious and the ref is going to be pulling me off of him.”

Poirier’s affinity for the guillotine choke, a submission technique he frequently attempts but has never won a fight with, has been a point of discussion during the build-up to UFC 302. But according to his coach Mike Brown, Poirier has been told to, “Don’t go for it even if you think it’s getting tight or you have a good feel for it, don’t give up position.”

In conclusion, Islam Makhachev’s upcoming title defense against Dustin Poirier is more than just a fight; it’s a clash of legacies and a quest for redemption. With both men focusing on bringing their unique strengths and motivations into the Octagon, UFC 302 promises to be a thrilling showdown for the fans watching!

Do you think Dustin Poirier will be able to have his revenge against Team Khabib finally? Or will Islam Makhachev continue his dominance over the 155 lbs division? Share your thoughts in the comments below!