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Many are seeing the upcoming light-weight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier as a repeat of Poirier’s 2019 failed attempt and rating the belt in opposition to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Nonetheless, Javier Mendez, head coach of Makhachev and Nurmagomedov, thinks that prognosis is fully immoral.
Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) appears to be like to contain his third title defense in opposition to Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) on June 1 within the precious tournament of UFC 302. Although Makhachev’s personnel is acquainted with Poirier, Mendez sees this as a utterly different matchup.
“No, here’s going to be lots utterly different due to Islam is no longer Khabib,” Mendez instructed MMA Junkie in Spanish. “They’re two utterly different fighters, and they don’t work the identical. The very best factor they attain the identical is the discipline. They each and each work no longer easy, but their vogue is utterly different.
“Khabib was once extra ground-oriented, but that’s what we wished. We’d consistently repeat him, ‘Rob the fight to the bottom, steal the fight to the bottom. Father’s knowing, father’s knowing.’ … With Islam, he’s practicing the total types; Muay Thai and boxing with other instructors in Dagestan. Khabib never did, he easiest educated with me. That’s why Islam developed so worthy within the placing. Islam can fight then again he desires, Khabib we would repeat him to battle due to no person within the field would per chance take care of it, and we knew it.
“Islam has all of it. How he desires to rating, when he desires to rating, where he desires to rating, it’s as much as him. We can steal the fight any place we desire. That’s the distinction between Islam and Khabib. Khabib’s No. 1 factor was once wrestling, but Islam can attain no matter he desires.”
Many get instructed that Makhachev’s course to victory is to battle in opposition to Poirier enjoy Nurmagomedov did in his 2019 title defense. Poirier is a unhealthy striker, but Mendez is confident that Makhachev can no longer easiest hang with Poirier on the feet but additionally beat him at his get game.
“See what occurred in opposition to Volkanovslki, he beat him within the placing,” Mendez acknowledged. “If of us mediate that Islam can easiest rating by taking the fight to the bottom, they’re immoral. That’s no longer how it has to occur. Islam can attain no matter he desires. Now, I’m no longer going to repeat you what we’ve got planned for the fight, but I will repeat you Islam can attain no matter he desires. Striking or ground game, we are able to attain all of it.”
For added on the playing cards, talk about over with MMA Junkie’s tournament hub for UFC 302.
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