Michael Bisping quotes Dustin PoirierThe curriculum is far superior to Islam Makhachev‘s.
Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) challenges lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 302 (pay-per-view/ESPN2/ESPN+) at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
Makhachev is the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, but Bisping thinks Poirier has the most impressive skins on his wall.
“When you look at Dustin Poirier’s record and compare it to Islam Makhachev’s, Dustin’s record smokes Islam’s – which seems like I’m being disrespectful to Islam. I’m not,” Bisping said in his “Believe in yourself” podcast. “But when you look at Islam: (He) fought Bobby Green, then it was for the belt against (Charles) Oliveira, then twice against (Alexander) Volkanovski.
“When you look at Poirier, I mean, it’s crazy: Max Holloway multiple times, Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, Anthony Pettis, Conor McGregor three times, Jim Miller, Dan Hooker, Oliveira, (Michael) Chandler, Gaethje again, Benoit Saint Denis. In terms of experience, he has fought against tougher guys. I think it’s fair to say. Now, competition in common, Islam beat Charles Oliveira while Dustin lost.”
Poirier hinted at the possibility of retirement after fighting Makhachev. Bisping, who had a similar long road to Poirier before winning UFC gold, thinks “The Diamond” will definitely change his mind if he wins.
“I think if he wins, he’ll defend the belt,” Bisping said. “I mean, I had an eye problem. (My wife) Rebecca said, ‘Okay, okay, so you finally got your title fight, are you going to retire, win or lose?’ I’m like, ‘Honey, if I lose, I’m going to retire. If I win, you’ll go crazy. We are making a lot of money.
“So I think if Dustin can do it, I think we’ll see him stick around. If he loses, it will be a great moment and a perfect send-off. It would be emotional because Dustin gave so much to the sport. He has been a fantastic ambassador. He fought with nothing but his heart and soul.”
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC 302.
