Just like in the Max Holloway fight, UFC veteran Dustin Poirier is the betting underdog heading into his proposed title unification bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov but the American Top Team product couldn’t care less.
In fact, speaking on a recent edition of the UFC Unfiltered podcast Poirier, who beat Max Holloway this past weekend to win the interim lightweight strap, said he thrives on being the underdog and looks forward to proving the doubters wrong once more when he inevitably squares off against Nurmagomedov.
“My life is a ‘Rocky’ movie. Just this last Saturday, people were looking past me,” Poirier said, per MMA Weekly’s Damon Martin. “It’s nothing new to me. It’s exciting. “I’ve said it before, I honor these challenges, that’s what wakes me up in the morning.
“I’m only going to build on this and get better. I know for sure I have the skills and the power and the determination and focus to put a loss on his record,”
It’s understandable why Nurmagomedov, who is undefeated after 27 professional fights, is the heavy betting favorite, but Poirier could prove to be his toughest test to date.
As well as becoming the first man to snap Holloway’s thirteen-fight win streak, the newly-minted interim champ also holds stoppage wins over Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje and Anthony Pettis. On top of that, Poirier is perhaps the most well-rounded fighter in the division and one of the best scramblers on the mat.
Khabib vs. Poirier hasn’t been made official, but both fighters are reportedly in negotiations for a title unification bout in September.