At UFC 302, Islam Makhachev will seek to carry Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legacy inside the Octagon. He is set to make the third defense of his UFC lightweight title against Dustin Poirier and if successful, he will tie ‘The Eagle’s record in the division. Having faced ‘The Diamond’ at UFC 242 in 2019, Nurmagomedov has a unique insight into the fighter’s style which he has been sharing with his friend and protégé!

According to a recent video shared on Nurmagomedov’s YouTube channel, the former lightweight king joined Makhachev’s training camp for a while but pushed the champion to his limit with his intense training sessions. And it appears that the training has paid off as the champion has posted a 3-word message to warn his opponent ahead of UFC 302!

Islam Makhachev is locked and loaded for UFC 302  

Khabib Nurmagomedov had previously indicated that he would be stepping away from all MMA roles, including coaching and cornering, to focus on his family, he decided to come back to join the training camp for the critical UFC 302 title defense for Islam Makhachev.

In the video shared on his YouTube channel, the former lightweight champion stated, “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 statement highlighted his commitment to ensuring Makhachev is in peak condition for the upcoming fight.

And while his intense and rigorous training sessions left Makhachev claiming, “Khabib came to the camp, slightly disrupting the start, and without any acclimatization, we immediately began training”, it appears that everything has gone according to plan for Team Khabib.

In a recent post on X that showcased Makhachev drenched in sweat in the gym, the UFC lightweight champion bluntly captioned the post, “Fight week! Readiness 💯 👊🏼”

Makhachev’s previous title defenses against Alexander Volkanovski have demonstrated his capability as a champion. However, each fight presents new challenges, and facing an elite lightweight like Poirier requires meticulous preparation. The addition of Nurmagomedov’s expertise to the training camp seems to have enhanced Makhachev’s readiness, providing him with strategies and insights that only a former champion can offer.

But according to Dustin Poirier’s coach, while Nurmagomedov and Makhachev do share some similarities in their fighting style, ‘The Diamond’ is ready to face any hurdles ‘Team Khabib’ throws at him at UFC 302!  

Dustin Poirier’s coach reveals what makes him a “dangerous” opponent for Makhachev

In an interview with MMA Fighting, Mike Brown, Dustin Poirier’s coach who was also in his corner for his clash against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019, revealed his thoughts on the differences in the fighting styles between ‘The Eagle’ and Islam Makhachev.

He stated, “Similar styles, but the techniques they use are quite different, I think Islam uses a lot more upper body trips and Khabib took a lot more shots.”

Brown also acknowledged that both fighters aim for the same outcome: taking their opponents down and using ground-and-pound tactics, submission attempts, or both. But according to him, Poirier is coming into the matchup with a factor that may be the ‘wild card’ in the equation!

According to him, “He’s (Poirier) got nothing to lose and I think that he’s very confident. He is very dangerous… This guy is ready for any style, any body type. He’s seen it all, and more often than not, he’s coming out on top.”

As fight night draws near, anticipation builds for this high-stakes showdown. Makhachev’s quest to defend his title and carry forward Nurmagomedov’s legacy is met with Poirier’s hunger for redemption and victory! Do you think Dustin Poirier will finally get his hands on the elusive undisputed lightweight crown? Or will Islam Makhachev carry on the legacy of ‘Team Khabib’ dominance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!