Islam Makhachev admits to mistakes against Dustin Poirier: ‘I know what I did wrong’
Islam Makhachev knows he wasn’t at his best against Dustin Poirier, but he still loves that fight.
Last June, Makhachev defended his lightweight title for the third time, facing former interim champion Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302. Makhachev was overwhelmingly favored to win, but it ended up being one of the most difficult of his career as Poirier defended takedowns and opened up a nasty cut on Makhachev’s forehead. In the end, Makhachev did win, submitting Poirier with a brabo choke in the fifth round, but the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport was pushed to his limit. So, even though he says it wasn’t his best performance, Makhachev is still quite fond of this battle.
“Last time, I was fight with Poirier, he prepared for this fight very well,” Makhachev told Demetrious Johnson. “He did good homework, I think. He defended my wrestling, defended my — I did a lot of mistakes. I did a kimura and when I closed [it] I think it’s finished, but I did a mistake a couple times.
“And he gave me [big cut]. But when I watch the highlights, I like this fight. ... If you ask me which fight I want to watch again, I say with Poirier. I watch this fight many times and I enjoy. I know what I did wrong, what I did right, what I have to change.”
Makhachev’s victory tied him with B.J. Penn, Frankie Edgar, Benson Henderson, and Khabib Nurmagomedov for most title defenses by a UFC lightweight champion. Now, Makhachev has the opportunity to set a new record when he defends his title against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311 later this month. The two previously met in Tsarukyan’s UFC debut in 2019, but even though he’s already beaten him, Makhachev isn’t overlooking the challenge Tsarukyan presents.
“When I fought with him first time, honestly, maybe I underestimated him,” Makhachev said. “... They were looking for an opponent. One month before they call me, we’ll sign this guy, he has good record, he’ll be your next opponent. In my mind, I thought, ‘Who is going to come from [outside] the UFC and give me some problems?’ I didn’t watch his fighting.
“He came and we had a very good fight. I won all three rounds, but right now, he’s improved a lot. He has more experience in UFC, a lot fights in UFC, but if you ask me, I’m [honest]. I see his style, I see his skills. I don’t see something that makes me surprised. He has good wrestling, I have same, I have better than him. He has striking, I have better than him. He has grappling, I know my grappling is better. But this time, it’s not going to be easy match, for sure. He’s No. 1 right now. He’s a guy who makes me work hard because he’s a real contender.”
UFC 311 takes place on Jan. 18 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.