Former undisputed light-weight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov has known as for his former-foe, Dustin Poirier to comply with although on a possible retirement from fight sports activities earlier this 12 months — claiming the Lafayette native and his counterparts from the light-weight “old fashioned” shouldn’t be preventing anymore.
Poirier, who retains the quantity 4 rank on the light-weight restrict, has been sidelined since June, headlining UFC 302 in opposition to Nurmagomedov’s protege and present pound-for-pound primary, Islam Makhachev in an undisputed title affair.
And forcing the dominant gold holder to the fifth spherical, Poirier was submitted finally with a D’Arce choke stoppage, with Makhachev defending his championship for the third time since his ascension.
Weighing up a possible retirement from fight sports activities within the aftermath of his outing for the undisputed crown, Poirier as soon as extra confirmed this weekend how he could be competing as soon as extra sooner or later — claiming a possible swansong was on the horizon.
Khabib Nurmagomedov requires Dustin Poirier to hold up his gloves now
Nonetheless, in keeping with Nurmagomedov, the previous interim champion ought to have already hung up his gloves — in addition to former opponent, Justin Gaethje, and arch-rival, Tony Ferguson.
“I believe (Dustin) Poirier must cease preventing,” Khabib Nurmagomedov informed the Pound-4-Pound podcast. “I believe he’s completed. Justin Gaethje, Khabib, Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson. That is old fashioned brother. Cease preventing.”
Collectively headlining UFC 242 again in 2019, Nurmagomedov would efficiently unify the light-weight crowns in a championship struggle in opposition to then-interim gold holder, Poirier, submitting the American Prime Crew striker with an eventual third spherical rear-naked choke in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Over the weekend as well, Louisiana native, Poirier appeared to endorse a possible light-weight welcoming of present featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria on social media — with the unbeaten knockout finisher confirming plans to discover a direct transfer to 155lbs subsequent.