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#5. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier (Undisputed Lightweight Championship)
Main Event time! Champion vs. Champion. The Eagle vs. Diamond! An unstoppable wrestler vs. a quintessential striker! It doesn't get any better than this!
Round1: Loud Khabib chants to begin the fight. Poirier let his legs loose. Both men felt each other in the early going of the fight.
Khabib drew first blood and went for a combination. Poirier moved his head well and Khabib shot for the takedown. Dustin resisted for a bit before getting taken down by a Khabib leg trip.
Khabib got Dustin's back and locked in the hooks. Dustin got out before any damage was done. Khabib continued to work towards a Rear Naked Choke. He almost got in his hands under the chin of Dustin, but the American survived and briefly got back up to his feet.
Khabib got him down again and kept up the pressure. Classic Khabib on display. Khabib had already notched up three minutes of ground time. Khabib got in some nasty ground and pound to end the round. He stared Dustin down! Intense! 10-9 Khabib
Round 2: Dustin came out strong with a few strikes to the body. Khabib jumped for the flying knee. Dustin landed a few good shots, particularly a big right hand, that had Khabib retreating.
Dustin looked off balance while attempting a majority of his offense and Khabib took advantage of the same. He shot for the takedown and got Dustin down with three minutes to go.
Khabib controlled Dustin's legs and kept firing off punches to the body and face against the fence. Dustin suffered a significant cut that seemed to be giving him some trouble. He got back to his feet but Khabib yanked him down yet again.
Back up against the cage and Khabib kept working on the underhooks. Khabib landed a good right and a knee in the clinch. The round came to a close with Khabib all over Dustin. 10-9 Khabib
Round 3: Both men exchanged body kicks to begin the third round. Dustin got hold off Khabib's neck and attempted the Guillotine. He tried to prevent Khabib from turning over and releasing the pressure but Khabib was just too darn good. He flipped positions and got hold off Dustin's back. He tried to get in the hooks for the rear-naked choke. He sank his hands in behind Dustin's head, got his right hand under his chin and locked in the choke. Dustin tapped and the fans went bananas!
Result: Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Dustin Poirier via submission (Rear Naked Choke) (2:06, Round 3)
It ended up being just another day at the office for the undefeated Dagestani mauler. Poirier had his moments, especially when he clipped Khabib in the second round, but in the end, Diamond proved to be no match for Khabib's elite wrestling. Dustin didn't cut corners and couldn't get Khabib's respect on the feet. Khabib fought his fight and out on another convincing performance.
Now, all we need is Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov to happen. MMA gods, please! Let it happen this time!
