Khabib Nurmagomedov, former lightweight champion, says Dustin Poirier’s time at the top is over. At a recent press conference, Khabib claimed that Poirier’s fire is gone, and it’s time for him to step aside and let the new generation come through.
“After the fight, he said he needs to think, does he need it at all? If such thoughts came to his mind, it means he will win, but he will win and lose.
Khabib: Dustin Poirier is DONE. “he will never go back”
He will not go to the end when it will be necessary. Sometimes, you look at the athlete and see how fast he changes. I say it to my close friends. While there is a time you should stay active and keep fighting. If this switch clicks once, he will never go back. I think his switch clicked.”
Of course, Khabib himself may have helped extinguish Poirier’s fire. Khabib choked Dustin out when they faced off in 2019, defending his lightweight title, and sending Poirier on the run of wins that got him back to a title shot against Charles Oliveira. Poirier succumbed to a champion once again, failing to secure the belt at UFC 269.
Khabib further outlined his brutally simple philosophy. Time waits, says Khabib, for no man, not even the UFC’s elite. “The time comes. There was Frankie Edgar, Benson Henderson, Pettis, before me. Then Conor…
No one stayed, everyone left. Now it is Charles Oliveira’s time. Charles came. Now it is the time of Islam, Beneil, Justin (Gaethje), Charles Oliveira.
They will fight now, then they will leave too. Others will come. No one can control this and no one will be able to stop this. Time runs (out). I think everything is simple. Charles Oliveira was better; choked and left. Later, another one will come and (beat) him.
He will go out, then we will talk about another one. It is such a carousel that will never be stopped.”
Khabib retired early last year in the wake of his father’s death. He was, at the time, the undefeated lightweight champion, boasting a 29-0 record.
Although the lightweight division is currently stocked with fighters Khabib defeated during his time at the time – or on his way up – his point that new blood will come through stands. Islam Makhachev in particular, a protege of Nurmagomedov’s, will be coming for the belt before too long.
Do you think it’s time for Dustin Poirier to step aside for the next generation? Let us know in the comments.
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