Retired Poirier names Khabib as the strongest fighter he ever faced in UFC career

Dustin Poirier has singled out Khabib Nurmagomedov as the strongest fighter he encountered across a 40-fight UFC career, describing the undefeated Russian as a uniquely overwhelming physical presence during their 2019 lightweight title clash.

Speaking on The Fight with Teddy Atlas podcast, Poirier (30-10) reflected on his defeat to Nurmagomedov (29-0) at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi — his first bid for the undisputed lightweight championship. “[Khabib] was the strongest guy I’ve ever felt,” Poirier said. “And I’m not sure if it was actual brute strength or it was a mixture of strength and technique that just made him feel like he weighed a 1000 pounds.”

Poirier was not without his moments in that fight. He landed a hard strike in the second round and locked in a guillotine choke in the third that appeared tight. Nurmagomedov, however, worked his head free and finished the bout with a rear-naked choke, successfully defending his title.

Nurmagomedov went on to make one further defence — a submission win over Justin Gaethje — before retiring undefeated in 2020. Poirier, meanwhile, continued to chase lightweight gold without success, falling short against both Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev before announcing his retirement last year following a loss to Max Holloway.

The reflection carries added weight given the calibre of opponents Poirier faced throughout his career. Having shared the cage with Holloway, Conor McGregor, and Makhachev among others, his verdict on Nurmagomedov underlines why “The Eagle” remains widely regarded as one of the most dominant champions in UFC history.