UFC: Khabib Nurmagomedov insists Conor McGregor will lose ‘100 times out of 100’ against Dustin Poirier
- Former lightweight champ doesn’t hold back in criticism of old rival following Poirier’s win at UFC 264
- Nurmagomedov suggests there was ‘something superior’ behind McGregor’s brutal leg break
Khabib Nurmagomedov wasn’t surprised in the least that Dustin Poirier walked away victorious against Conor McGregor again at UFC 264.
Former lightweight champion Nurmagomedov – who retired undefeated last October – will forever be associated with the Irishman, following their heated 2018 showdown where he submitted him to retain his belt.
And in an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto on Monday, the Dagestan native reacted to Saturday night’s dramatic main event, where former two-division champ McGregor (22-6) suffered a broken leg in the final seconds of the first round, having hurled insults at Poirier (28-6, one no contest) and his wife before and after the fight.
“It sounds like same thing Dustin saying, it’s just noise,” Nurmagomedov said. “He’s not him. I think it was fake Conor, that’s my opinion, because couple months ago we see how he was nice, now he try to be like … it looks fake.
“That’s why this trash talk don’t work on Dustin Poirier. It was his big mistake. He lose so much energy, because he tried to go under his skin. Don’t focus on your opponent, just focus on yourself.”
McGregor went on a social media tirade after undergoing surgery on his broken leg, claiming he would’ve “shown all” had the fight gone to a second round, but Nurmagomedov is not convinced he would’ve won.
“Judges give [the first round] for Dustin Poirier 10-8, he maul him on this round,” the Russian added. “I think if they fight 100 times, Dustin gonna beat him 100 times.
“If he gonna come back, OK, make him fight one more time with Dustin Poirier and finish this guy, that’s it. I think this is what the UFC is gonna do with him, or maybe he fight versus Nate [Diaz]. But both of them I think he’s gonna lose.”
Nurmagomedov also gave an interview to MMA Junkie on Monday, insisting “something superior” caused McGregor’s leg break at UFC 264.
“[There’s] always [going to] be there something superior – more powerful – than we have,” Nurmagomedov said. “Sometimes when people become, ‘I’m this, I can do this. I’m smart because I’m strong’ … God always going to make you humble.
“I saw yesterday or two days ago, I saw his coach’s interview like, ‘I don’t understand how this happened. He’s a strong young, strong man and he broke his foot, I don’t understand’.
“Everything from God. You have to become humble. When you become rich, when you become strong, when you become famous and then you think this is because of myself? God going to make you humble.”
Nurmagomedov also gave his backing for Poirier in his expected lightweight title bout against Charles Oliveira, which could take place later this year.
“I really enjoy this fight,” Nurmagomedov added. “I’m really happy with Dustin Poirier. I think he deserve title shot, and I think he deserve to be UFC lightweight champion right now.”
