Retired lightweight star Khabib Nurmagomedov has predicted who he think will win the upcoming lightweight title clash between current champ Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 next month.
Khabib, who retired undefeated while still the champion of the division last year, has previous experience of fighting Poirier, having defeated him by third round submission back in 2019, but though he hasn’t fought Oliveira he’s well aware that he’s a serious threat too.
“You cannot go to the Charles Oliveira red zone,” Nurmagomedov told ESPN. “This guy is a real finisher. He’s very dangerous, and I think if Dustin Poirier takes him to the deep ocean like he told us, I think he’s going to win. But if you rush, I think Charles Oliveira is going to have a chance. My opinion: It’s 60-40 (percent) I think, to Dustin Poirier.
“Because of his cardio and heart, it’s my opinion. But Charles is a very, very dangerous opponent and he knows right now he’s the real champion and because he has nine-win streak. He beat Tony Ferguson, he finished eight guys and it’s a very interesting fight for me. I think 60-40 Dustin Poirier.”
Khabib’s prediction falls in lines with the oddsmakers, who currently have the challenger Poirier as a slight favorite.
