mobanmarketDubai: UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier says he intends to show the world how great a fighter he is by becoming the first man in history to “put away” Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi next Saturday.
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The American (17-4 UFC, 25-5 MMA) takes on the Russian lightweight title-holder (11-0 UFC, 27-0 MMA) at a brand new purpose-built venue called The Arena, which is located on Yas Island.
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“I feel it in my body. I know I’m going to hurt him and put him away,” Poirier told MMA Fighting’s Danny Segura in a recent interview broadcast on YouTube.
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Reminded that 27 fighters have failed in their attempts to beat Khabib, what made Poirier so confident of rewriting UFC history?
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“Just my whole game, everything,” he said. “My well-rounded understanding of positions, of jiu-jitsu, of wrestling, kick-boxing, my MMA understanding and my commitment to being the best fighter that I can be is going to come through and I’m going to show the world how great I am.”
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A professional competitor since 2009, Poirier, 30, has posted notable victories over champions Max Holloway (twice), Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethie and Anthony Pettis.
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“I can hurt anybody in the world, I know what I’m capable of,” he said, while acknowledging that Khabib is the best fighter he has ever faced.
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“These guys don’t scare me, but he’s probably the most dominant, in one aspect of fighting – his top pressure, his take-downs. That skill set he has is the best I’ve ever fought.”
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Khabib, also 30-years of age, is the first Russian fighter to win a UFC title and he did so beating no other than Conor McGregor at UFC 229 last year.
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He is also on No 2 in official UFC pound-for-pound rankings behind Jon Jones who is regarded as one of the most dangerous and greatest fighters of all-time.
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Commenting on Abu Dhabi being the chosen venue Poirier, who is based in Louisiana, United States, said: “It’s extra-special for me. It’s never been done before in a place across the world.”
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The official weigh-in for UFC 242 will be on Friday at the Yas Arena.
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