UFC 242 Free Fights Featuring Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dustin Poirier

Thanks to the UFC being overseas this weekend, we can now focus our attention to UFC 242 and next Saturday night’s epic lightweight title unification match.

The Octagon will remain on foreign soil, setting up shop from The Arena, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for the first time since 2014.

UFC 242: Khabib vs. Poirier features reigning lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov making his second title defense against interim lightweight champion Dusstin Poirier in the main event. Related: Khabib Nurmagomedov Responds To Dustin Poirier, Sets Fight Date

Nurmagomedov, the unbeaten 30-year-old, earned a fourth round submission victory vs. Conor McGregor this past October, improving to 27-0 in his career. Seventeen of those wins have been finishes.

How Khabib Nurmagomedov Became UFC Lightweight Champion

In early 2018, he earned a decision victory vs. Al Iaquinta to claim the vacant UFC lightweight title after Iaquinta replaced Tony Ferguson on the card. Nurmagomedov never wavered on the late-minute change, going out and taking care of business to earn his first UFC contract.

Nurmagomedov had been suspended since the McGregor bout for his part in a post-fight incident involving several other fighters. He was handed a nine-month suspension and fined $500,000. Related: UFC 242: Watch Fans Camp Outside AKA To Meet UFC Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov

Poirier, meanwhile, earned the biggest win of his career to date when he scored a decision vs. Max Holloway for the interim title in April. “The Diamond” has won four in a row, topping former UFC and Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez, former World Series of Fighting champion Justin Gaethje and former UFC and WEC champioin Anthony Pettis.

Add in Holloway, who is the reigning featherweight titleholder, and you can see why this bout has everyone anxious for next weekend.

How Dustin Poirier Cemented His Status As Top Contender

UFC 242: Khabib Vs. Poirier Fight Card

MAIN CARD

UFC Lightweight Championship
Khabib Nurmagomedov (c) vs. Dustin Poirier (ic)

Lightweight: Edson Barboza vs. Paul Felder

Lightweight: Islam Makhachev vs. Davi Ramos

Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov

Lightweight: Mairbek Taisumov vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira

PRELIMINARY CARD

Lightweight: Ottman Azalta vs. Teemu Packalen

Female Bantamweight: Liana Jojua vs. Sarah Moras

Welterweight: Belal Muhammad vs. Takashi Sato

Welterweight: Nordine Taleb vs. Muslim Salikhov

Middleweight: Omari Akhmedov vs. Zak Cummings

Female Flyweight: Joanne Calderwood vs. Andrea Lee

Featherweight: Zubaira Tukhugov vs. Lerone Murphy

Lightweight: Don Madge vs. Fares Ziam

Dana Becker

The world of MMA is one of the few sports that brings together people from all walks of life. I try my best to tell those stories and also present breaking news to the masses.