UFC 242 Predictions

How do you beat a man who has never really shown any sign of weakness? It's a question Dustin Poirier has to ask himself when he takes on undefeated UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The 30-year old has destroyed every single fighter he has faced, using his unique style of wrestling, sambo and ground and pound to pulverize opponents and take away their will to fight. The thing that makes Nurmagomedov so special is that he doesn't just transition between these styles, he combines them into one, making it difficult for his opponents to defend against him.

Not only is he one of the most dangerous ground fighters in the world, he's also got some very underrated boxing skills. Just look back at his last fight, when he clocked striking sensation Conor McGregor straight in the jaw and put him on his backside. To think that Nurmagomedov is weak in any area would be a mistake for anyone he faces.

Poirier won't have that problem, as he isn't the type of fighter to underestimate his opponents. In fact, he's one of the smartest fighters competing as he's always got a solid gameplan and implements it to perfection. Since he moved up 155lb, Poirier's knockout power has only increased and he seems to be far more of a brutal puncher than he was when he was younger. Now that he's finishing opponents with his hands regularly, no-one seems to talk about his grappling skills. However, he's shown in the past that when the fight gets to the floor, he's more than equipped to handle himself

However, despite Poirier being one of the best lightweights on the planet, Nurmagomedov is simply too strong in the grappling department for him to not be able to get Poirier down and do what he does best. This should be a decision victory for the champion.