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Dustin Poirier has undergone his most grinding training camp to face the unbeaten Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champ from Russia, Khabib Nurmagomedov, for the UFC 242 clash at the newly built The Arena in Abu Dhabi on September 7.
The 30-year-old American, who had in April beat Max Holloway to the interim belt, is confident about ending Khabib's 27-0 undefeated streak in MMA.
"It means everything to me. How many times in our lives or in our careers do we have a chance to really do something great? These guys are building an arena for us to compete in. I'm traveling across the world for the biggest fight that I can possibly get and going out there to do something that's never been done. I have an opportunity for greatness, and I'm approaching it that way, and I'm very excited about all of this," Poirier said.
Dustin said he couldn't wait to get started and was anxious to get the fight week rolling. "When I lay down in bed at night, I envision myself getting the belt wrapped around me once again and being the undisputed world champion and flying back to America with my wife, and that makes me feel good."
Even though Khabib's last outing was in October of 2018, Dustin felt he had no advantage because of the lengthy layoff.
"I think that's more of an individual thing. Everybody is different. I believe Khabib is one of the guys who works year round and is always working on his craft. I think he's going to be the best he's ever been come September 7."
Dustin noted mental preparedness plays a key role in such high-voltage encounters.
"I can trust myself that when I get in there and they lock that door for 25 minutes, that I'm the better fighter, and I'm in there to win, and that I'm going to find an opening, or make an opening, and be the victor here," he said.
However, Dustin acknowledges his underdog tag.
"The guy's undefeated. I'm going to go out there and do what hasn't been done and put a loss on Khabib's record for all the underdogs across the world. I have a real opportunity to be great, and do something that's never been done, and I will not let this slip through my fingers."
And preparing for his first action in the hot summer of Abu Dhabi, Dustin has tried different methods of workouts, including training directly under the sun.
"This camp has been the most grinding training camp that I can remember having, and this is my 41st mixed martial arts fight. It's just the style of camp. Every day wrestling, every day guys trying to hold you down, it's almost like every day was strength to conditioning session with these techniques, and with these guys trying to hold me down. It was a constant scramble but I believe that that's why I'm in the best shape that I've ever been in my life heading into this fight."
Moreover, Dustin will be landing in the capital with a nutritionist and a chef to handle 'challenges' that come with the food, spices and the time change.
"I'm set out to defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov, September 7," he signed off.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com
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