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Dustin Poirier reflects on ‘Incredible squeeze’ of Islam Makhachev at UFC 302: ‘It was like a vise grip’

Dustin Poirier reflects on incredible squeeze from Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 it was like a vise grip Former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has claimed that while former foe, Khabib Nurmagomedov was likely stronger than opponent, Islam…

Former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has claimed that while former foe, Khabib Nurmagomedov was likely stronger than opponent, Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 earlier this month – the latter’s squeeze and taut pressure was something he had yet to experience inside the Octagon.

Poirier, the current number four ranked divisional contender and former interim gold holder, headlined UFC 302 earlier this month in New Jersey, suffering in his third attempt to land the undisputed divisional crown.

Suffering a fifth round submission loss to pound-for-pound pacesetter, Makahchev, Poirier was forced to tap to a late D’Arce choke in the final frame, before he eventually went unconscious in the finishing sequence.

Dustin Poirier compliments Islam Makhachev after UFC 302 loss

Reflecting on his blemish submission to the Russian, Poirier offered some comparisons between the ability of Nurmagomedov and his protégé, Makhachev, claiming the squeezing ability of the latter was “incredible”.

“I think Khabib (Nurmagomedov) is stronger [than Islam Makhachev] – physically stronger,” Dustin Poirier told MMA Fighting. “Islam’s squeeze was incredible. Like, I never – the whole fight he felt okay – all of these guys are strong, but it wasn’t overwhelming. But his squeeze: that torque he got in that D’Arce choke, you know, it was like a vise – it was like a vise grip.”

Admitting he had likely made his final Octagon walk and appearance in the immediate aftermath of his defeat to Makhachev, Poirier issued a heartfelt thank you to his fans and family as the crowd offered him a standing ovation at the Prudential Center.

Dustin Poirier reveals nasty injury list after UFC 302 loss broken nose broken ribs and I tore my ACL

Poirier’s close friend, former UFC lightweight star, Yves Edwards interestingly revealed that the Lafayette native suffered a debilitating rib injury just weeks from his fight with Makhachev, which prevented him from grappling and wrestling during his camp.

Do you want to see Dustin Poirier fight beyond his UFC 302 title fight loss?

Dustin Poirier reflects on ‘Incredible squeeze’ of Islam Makhachev at UFC 302: ‘It was like a vise grip’

Former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has claimed that while former foe, Khabib Nurmagomedov was likely stronger than opponent, Islam…

Dustin Poirier compliments Islam Makhachev after UFC 302 loss

Do you want to see Dustin Poirier fight beyond his UFC 302 title fight loss?

Manager says Conor McGregor should ‘Leave the drugs alone’ if he wants Islam Makhachev fight

Ali Abdelaziz, the manager of Islam Makhachev says Conor McGregor needs to fully focus on fighting if he wants…

Ali Abdelaziz, the manager of Islam Makhachev says Conor McGregor needs to fully focus on fighting if he wants to fight for the lightweight title again.

McGregor is scheduled to return to the Octagon on June 29 against Michael Chandler at welterweight. Although there were worries the fight would be off, as of right now, the bout is still happening.

Should McGregor get his hand raised, the Irishman would have massive fights looking for him. One possible fight is Islam Makhachev and Abdelaziz says the lightweight champ wouldn’t say no to a McGregor fight.

“Conor might go there and knock out Chandler in the first round,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. “And after that, he’s one of the biggest stars in the sport. Like him or hate him, he is. And if he tells the UFC, ‘Hey, I want a title shot, Islam want a title shot.’ That can be the next title shot. Islam’s not gonna say no to this fight. It’s a big fight, it’s a big name, it’s a lot more money.

“The guy’s a massive star,” Abdelaziz continued. “I think he’s a piece of s—, but he is a massive star. You can’t take this away from him. With the history with Khabib, and with him and with Islam, it will be all over again. It’ll be all over again and it’ll be one of the biggest fights you can make today. One thing I know about Dana White, he likes money and he likes business. That’s why the UFC is so big right now. You have Dana, you have Hunter [Campbell], you have Sean [Shelby], you have Mick [Maynard]. They are great minds, and they put on the biggest fights that can sell the most pay-per-views. Why not? Absolutely. Listen, it’s very possible.”

Conor McGregor confirms UFC 303 fight with Michael Chandler is on amid scrutiny see ya's soon

Conor McGregor enters the bout with Michael Chandler as a slight -102 underdog.

Ali Abdelaziz wonders if Conor McGregor is serious about fighting

With Conor McGregor being as rich as he is, many have wondered if the desire to train and fight is still there. That is also a question that Abdelaziz has as he wonders if McGregor is serious about fighting.

gettyimages 2155672061 612x612 1 — NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 01: Islam Makhachev of Russia reacts after his submission victory against Dustin Poirier in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 302 event at Prudential Center on June 01, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“But, you know, Conor has to get off the bottle and he has to leave the drugs alone and focus,” Abdelaziz said. “And yeah, he’s definitely… the guy was a two-division champion, and he has talent. But is the hard work now there or not there anymore? You have to ask him this question.”

Conor McGregor hasn’t fought since July of 2021 when he broke his leg in the trilogy match against Dustin Poirier.

Islam Makhachev campaigns for grudge fight with Conor McGregor after UFC 302: ‘It looks more interesting’

Undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has staked his claim for a grudge fight with former two-division titleholder, Conor McGregor…

Undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has staked his claim for a grudge fight with former two-division titleholder, Conor McGregor in his return to the Octagon next following his win at UFC 302 – claiming the clash is “more interesting” to him that other matchups.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion and pound-for-pound number one ranked contender, headlined UFC 302 last weekend in New Jersey, successfully defending his crown in a fifth round win over commo-foe, Dustin Poirier.

Landing an impressive submission victory, Makhachev battled through some significant adversity against the lightweight striking veteran, to land a D’Arce choke win, turning in his third successful defense of the 155lbs title.

And immediately linked with a title fight rematch against the surging number one ranked, Arman Tsarukyan in his return after his win in ‘The Garden State’, Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez instead suggested a pairing with the above-mentioned, McGregor next.

Islam Makhachev plays up Conor McGregor fight

Amid continued speculation regarding his own UFC 303 return – slated for later this month in a welterweight fight against Michael Chandler, Makhachev, who claimed he was unsure if the Dubliner would ever fight again, staked his claim for a defense, however still.

“To be honest, the (Conor) McGregor fight looks more interesting in terms of media, and in all respects,” Islam Makhachev told Ushatayka of who he would like to take on next. “But I don’t think he’ll ever show up for his next fight [at UFC 303]. We’ve all seen that video – plus, they [the UFC] cancelled the press conference.”

“I don’t think he’ll be able to make it to the fight,” Islam Makhachev continued. “Even if he does [fight at UFC 303], I think (Michael) Chandler will win. He’s more focused, he’s been training hard, he looks more hungry.

Would you like to see Islam Makhachev fight Conor McGregor as soon as possible?

Islam Makhachev campaigns for grudge fight with Conor McGregor after UFC 302: ‘It looks more interesting’

Undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has staked his claim for a grudge fight with former two-division titleholder, Conor McGregor…

Islam Makhachev plays up Conor McGregor fight

Would you like to see Islam Makhachev fight Conor McGregor as soon as possible?

UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan ‘choked out’ alligator during South Florida fishing trip: ‘I got a license to kill’

Ahead of his first shot at UFC gold, Arman Tsarukyan put his submission skills to the test against an…

Ahead of his first shot at UFC gold, Arman Tsarukyan put his submission skills to the test against an alligator during a fishing trip to the Everglades.

After scoring a big split decision victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April, ‘Ahalkalakets’ slid into the No. 1 spot in the lightweight rankings, putting him in pole position for a shot at the division’s reigning champion, Islam Makhachev.

Until then, Tsarukyan is out here in South Florida picking off gators.

Adding some context to the above image (originally shared on his Instagram), Tsarukyan revealed that he had literally “choked out” the alligator after trapping it with nothing more than a hook in the river.

“I choked him out,” Tsarukyan told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “I pulled him out from the river, choked him, and put him on my back. In Florida, I got a license to kill the alligator. You throw the hook in the river, the alligator got the hook and you got to pull it. We pulled two. Me and my friend we pulled one alligator. He was like seven or eight feet, but there is 12 feet, 13 feet alligators and hopefully, he was small. Maybe 50-70 pounds.

“Catch it without meat or anything. Just hook, empty hook. I kill a lot of animals, but I didn’t post it because other animals, it’s sad, but alligators, it’s okay” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Arman Tsarukyan Eyeing Fall 2024 for Islam Makhachev rematch

Including his win over ‘Do Bronx’ at the promotion’s landmark event, Arman Tsarukyan finds himself on a four-fight win streak kickstarted by a victory over Damir Ismagulov in December 2022. He followed that up with a pair of W’s against Joaquim Silva and Beneil Dariush before taking out the former 155-pound champ.

Tsarukyan has only lost twice inside the Octagon, one of those defeats coming during his promotional debut at the hands of Islam Makhachev. Five years later, it looks like the two will tussle one more time with Tsarukyan fighting for both legacy and redemption.

As of now, there is no announced date for the long-awaited rematch, but Tsarukyan told Helwani that it’ll either be October in Abu Dhabi, or November in New York.