Khabib Nurmagomedov: Conor McGregor must win early to top Dustin Poirier in UFC 264 trilogy

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s perspective on the third fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor doesn’t different much from the second.

Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) thinks that if his old rival McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) is going to win the rubber match at UFC 264 on July 10 in Las Vegas, then he needs to finish Poirier (27-6 MMA, 19-5 UFC) in the opening round of the lightweight headliner.

If McGregor can’t get the job done in the first five minutes, Nurmagomedov argues the Irishman’s odds take a significant dip, and the window for Poirier opens significantly.

“If it’s the first round (for a finish), I’d back Conor,” Nurmagomedov told RT. “From the second round and further, then Dustin wins.”

There was similar analysis offered by Nurmagomedov, as well as other pundits, going into the Poirier vs. McGregor rematch at UFC 257 in January. McGregor landed some solid strikes in the opening minutes, but as time wore on, “The Diamond” began to take over.

Poirier’s leg kicks slowed McGregor as the fight wore on, then in the second round he landed a shot that hurt “The Notorious” and set up the first knockout loss of his career in MMA.

The pair are now set to run it back once more in a deciding trilogy fight, with the winner likely set to challenge lightweight champ Charles Oliveira for the belt later this year.

Oliveira’s title is the one Nurmagomedov opted to vacate when he retired from combat sports competition with an undefeated record. “The Eagle” ruled over the 155-pound class for years, but his departure opens things up and it’s hard to gauge how often the title will be passed around.

Nurmagomedov said he’s enjoying the unpredictability of the division, though, and thinks it’s going to hit peak form by the end of the year.

“The division has always been the most interesting and the strongest,” Nurmagomedov said. “It will be fun by the end of the year.”