Khabib vs Dustin Poirier UFC 242 LIVE result: Nurmagomedov remains undisputed lightweight champion
Re-live all the action from UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi
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Your support makes all the difference.Khabib Nurmagomedov returned to the UFC on Saturday and made a major statement, defeating Dustin Poirier to retain his lightweight title at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi.
The undefeated Dagestani improved his record to 28-0 with the win, submitting 'The Diamond' via rear naked choke in the third round of the pair's five-round main event contest.
The fight and victory were the lightweight king's first in the 11 months since he overshadowed his win over Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in Las Vegas by scaling the cage and jumping into the crowd to fight members of the Irishman's entourage.
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"Right now, I feel this hunger," Nurmagomedov said before this fight. "I feel this motivation, this fire, and that's why I stay focused. I want to stay busy. I want to stay hungry. I want to stay focused, humble. This is the key."
Nurmagomedov returns to face Poirier (21-5, 1 no-contest), who claimed an interim lightweight title belt during Nurmagomedov's suspension by beating Max Holloway.
Unlike the theatrics around his bout last year with McGregor, Nurmagomedov has a clear mutual respect with Poirier. Instead of a clash of personalities, this fight will be a contrast of style and strengths.
"My last fight, it was a little bit crazy and tough fight," Nurmagomedov said. "But now I have an opponent I want to show respect to, and it's all about respect. That's why we both show respect. But when the cage closes, it's going to be a very good, high-level matchup."
Poirier ends this round on the feet, but it's another frame to 'The Eagle'.
A wild swing from Poirier early in the third.
This is the problem, he may already require a knockout to leave here as undisputed champion.
Poirier is taken down, but - not for the first time tonight - he looks for a guillotine choke straight away.
He can't fully synch it in, however, and Khabib frees himself.
Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Dustin Poirier by submission
It's a rear naked choke that gets the job done for the undisputed lightweight champion, halfway through round three.
A valiant effort from Poirier, but Khabib did what Khabib always does.
Who's next? Who can stop 'The Eagle'?
Tears from Poirier, who says that you have to be grateful when you're winning and graceful when you're losing.
He was certainly graceful in defeat tonight.
That's all, folks. A great night of fights in Abu Dhabi, with Khabib Nurmagomedov defeating Dustin Poirier in the main event to remain undisputed UFC lightweight champion.
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