UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (28-0-0) united the belt by defeating interim champion Dustin Poirier (25-6-0) in a spirited three round contest in the main event of UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi.
Poirier, the underdog going into the fight made things interesting in the early rounds. After getting pressured near the cage and on the mat by Khabib, he rebounded to stun Nurmagomedov in the second round with strikes that backed the Russian up. The American also tried several guillotine submission attempts, in round two and particularly round three.
But, as always with Khabib opponents, the pressure was too much.
Nurmagomedov escaped the second guillotine choke and ended up in top position, forcing Poirier to give up his back. The Russian slipped in the rear-naked choke and Poirier was forced to tap at 2:06 in the third round.
The win marks Nurmagomedov’s second successful defence of the belt along with unifying Poirier’s interim crown. Tony Ferguson is expected to be next in line for a crack at the belt, a matchup that has been delayed by various injuries to both Ferguson and Nurmagomedov.
💰 B O N U S E S 💰
➡️ @TeamKhabib, @BullyB170, @OttmanAzaitar, Salikhov
B2YB – @P3Protein pic.twitter.com/b6kepQdanr
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
Nurmagomedov, Ottman Azatair, Muslim Salikhov, and Belal Muhammad earned performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card
UFC 242 FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
FARES ZIAM VS. DON MADGE
🎩 The Magic Man!@DonMadgeMMA gets the UD to start the card! #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/iV79ae7zjE
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: DON MADGE VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DON MADGE VIA TKO
Andrews: Give Ziam credit for hanging in there, but most times there’s no substitute for experience in the octagon.
ZAK CUMMINGS VS. OMARI AKHMEDOV
Exclamation to end round 2️⃣!
🇷🇺 @Omari_Akhmedov #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/kchKgZpXvP
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: OMARI AKHMEDOV VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: OMARI AKHMEDOV VIA UD
Andrews: The sun is setting for Cummings.
NORDINE TALEB VS. MUSLIM SALIKHOV
Everybody was Kung Fu fighting! 👊
⚡️ Salikhov flashes the lightning fast hands at #UFC242!!! pic.twitter.com/7mV00kukCm
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: MUSLIM SALIKHOV VIA KO (PUNCH) R1 4:26
ANDREWS PREDICTION: NORDINE TALEB VIA UD
Andrews: Taleb got caught. Big time.
BELAL MUHAMMAD VS. TAKASHI SATO
🗣 THERE'S THE TAP!@BullyB170, have yourself a night! #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/jwh6Avfd43
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: BELAL MUHAMMAD VIA SUBMISSION (REAR-NAKED CHOKE) R3 1:55
ANDREWS PREDICTION: BELAL MUHAMMAD VIA UD
Andrews: Muhammad had an entire country in his corner. He used it to his advantage.
TEEMU PACKALEN VS. OTTMAN AZAITAR
OH. MY. GOODNESS. 🤯@OttmanAzaitar #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/J4b483n6XH
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: OTTMAN AZAITAR VIA KO (PUNCH) R1 3:33
ANDREWS PREDICTION: OTTMAN AZAITAR VIA TKO
Andrews: Ottman gets it done. No octagon jitters here!
SARAH MORAS VS. LIANA JOJUA
That'll do it! 💪
🇨🇦 @SarahCheesecake brought it #InAbuDhabi! pic.twitter.com/3adkwAdiQy
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: SARAH MORAS VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R3 2:26
ANDREWS PREDICTION: SARAH MORAS VIA UD
Andrews: Good win for Moras, but she has to make weight.
ZUBAIARA TUKHUGOV VS. LERONE MURPHY
Do you agree!? 🧐
We have a split draw #InAbuDhabi. pic.twitter.com/DjS3pgL5ZF
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: DRAW (28-29, 29-28, 28-28)
Andrews: Props to Murphy for competing like a seasoned veteran in his first UFC bout.
#5 JOANNE CALDERWOOD VS. #6 ANDREA LEE
💥💪@DRkneevil with a MASSIVE elbow in round one! #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/WFdQapHk89
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: JOANNE CALDERWOOD VIA SD (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ANDREA LEE VIA UD
Andrews: It was close, but Calderwood has seen the other end of these decisions before. She finally got one in her favour.
MAIN CARD
MAIRBEK TAISUMOV VS. CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA
Let's see 'em! 🗒
What are your scorecards looking like⁉️ #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/LiW663b0Cs
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA VIA UD (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MAIRBEK TAISUMOV VIA TKO
Andrews: Ferreira used his experience and smarts to outwork Taisumov.
#4 CURTIS BLAYES VS. #9 SHAMIL ABDURAKHIMOV
D O M I N A N T !
🇺🇸 @RazorBlaydes265 backs up the talk #InAbuDhabi! pic.twitter.com/zpw9CFGv24
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: CURTIS BLAYDES VIA TKO (ELBOW AND PUNCHES)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CURTIS BLAYDES VIA UD
Andrews: Good win for Curtis, especially with the finish.
ISLAM MAKHACHEV VS. DAVI RAMOS
HUGE KNEE 😱
🇷🇺 @MakhachevMMA refuses to leave without the win! #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/k8wuTgpyRp
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: ISLAM MAKHACHEV VIA UD (29-27, 30-26, 30-26)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ISLAM MAKHACHEV VIA UD
Andrews: How Ramos survived the last round, I’ll never know.
EDSON BARBOZA VS. PAUL FELDER
OOOOOH!
The spinning backfist lands for @EdsonBarbozaJR but @FelderPaul just EATS IT! #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/Vza1yRRjdn
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: PAUL FELDER VIA SD (27-30, 30-27, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: EDSON BARBOZA VIA UD
Andrews: It must have been the final seconds of the last round that swayed the judges. I thought Barboza won.
MAIN EVENT
KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV VS. DUSTIN POIRIER
2️⃣8️⃣-0️⃣!!!
The standard for all LWs to be judged! @TeamKhabib #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/oRuw9AGWHo
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019
WINNER: KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV VIA SUBMISSION (REAR-NAKED CHOKE) R3 2:06
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: True to form, Khabib wore out Dustin, then choked him out. Is Tony Ferguson next?
@kenaiandrews
