Some already consider Islam Makhachev's road to UFC gold more difficult than that of his friend and mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Makhachev may not have had a linear rise, jumping from Bobby Green to Charles Oliveira. Still, his title reign includes emphatic wins over the aforementioned Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski (twice) and Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.
Makhachev looks to break Nurmagomedov's lightweight title defense record at UFC 311 when he takes on Arman Tsarukyan, who many consider one of the most important tests for Makhachev right now. Makhachev's coach, Javier Mendez, would call another fighter Makhachev's toughest fight yet.
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Javier Mendez calls Dustin Poirier Islam Makhachev's toughest fight
In an interview with Submission Radio, Mendez revealed that his toughest fight wasn't Makhachev's brutal five-rounder with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284, but Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.
“Dustin [Poirier] was the biggest challenge,” Mendez exclaimed. “Dustin took it, man. . . . That was a Dustin I had never seen before. . . . For me it's Dustin, I don't know about Arman because it hasn't happened yet. But at this particular moment it's Dustin, Dustin was the biggest challenge.”
Poirier was Makhachev's only title defense in 2024, and the fight delivered a double bonus for fight of the night and performance of the night.
Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier was an unexpected barn burner
Sentiment was low for Poirier, who many felt didn't deserve the title. 'The Diamond' earned his fight with the elimination of the surging Benoit Saint-Denis, but otherwise he is 3-2 in his last five appearances. This was reflected in the bookmakers, who had Poirier as a +360 underdog.
It looked like a classic Makhachev performance as he took Poirier down almost immediately, but Poirier showed incredible wrestling defense to survive the first round. The momentum changed in the second round when Poirier started defending takedowns. It was still very much Makhachev's fight, but Poirier wasn't going to give up easily.
A slick elbow from Poirier sliced open Makhachev's forehead in the fourth round, marking the moment it became a dogfight. In the fifth round, Makhachev messed up a single leg but turned it into an ankle hold that staggered Poirier. From here, the champion locked in a D'Arce Choke, forcing the tap.
If Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan is even half as good as the Poirier fight, fans are in for a treat.
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