Dustin Poirier Reveals Why Khabib Nurmagomedov Was His Toughest Opponent
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has shared why he believes Khabib Nurmagomedov was the strongest opponent he ever faced inside the Octagon.
Poirier, who fought Khabib in the main event of UFC 242 in 2019, has faced some of the hardest hitters and most durable fighters in MMA history, including Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, Conor McGregor, Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev. Despite that elite list of opponents, ‘The Diamond’ says nobody compared to the physical dominance of the undefeated Dagestani.
Speaking on The Fight with Teddy Atlas, Poirier explained that it wasn’t simply Khabib’s raw power that made him so difficult to deal with.
“I’m not sure if it was brute strength or a mix of strength and technique that made him feel like he weighed 1,000 lbs.”
The American admitted that once Khabib established control in grappling exchanges, it felt almost impossible to move him. His pressure, balance and world-class wrestling combined to create a level of control that Poirier says he had never experienced before.
The pair met at UFC 242 with the undisputed lightweight championship on the line. Poirier entered the contest as the interim champion after defeating Holloway, but Khabib showcased his trademark wrestling throughout the fight before securing a rear-naked choke submission in the third round to retain his title and extend his unbeaten record.
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Khabib would compete just once more after defeating Poirier, submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 before announcing his retirement with a perfect 29-0 professional record. He remains widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, with his relentless grappling and suffocating top control becoming the benchmark for dominant wrestling in the UFC.
Years after sharing the cage with the former champion, Poirier’s comments only reinforce Khabib’s legacy. While many fighters possessed knockout power or elite striking, it was Khabib’s unique blend of strength, technique and relentless pressure that left the biggest impression on one of the lightweight division’s all-time greats.
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