Khabib vs Dustin Poirier UFC 242 LIVE result: Nurmagomedov remains undisputed lightweight champion

Re-live all the action from UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi

Khabib Nurmagomedov weighs in

Khabib Nurmagomedov returned to the UFC on Saturday and made a major statement, defeating Dustin Poirier to retain his lightweight title at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi.

The undefeated Dagestani improved his record to 28-0 with the win, submitting 'The Diamond' via rear naked choke in the third round of the pair's five-round main event contest.

The fight and victory were the lightweight king's first in the 11 months since he overshadowed his win over Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in Las Vegas by scaling the cage and jumping into the crowd to fight members of the Irishman's entourage.

Re-live all the action from Abu Dhabi below:

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"Right now, I feel this hunger," Nurmagomedov said before this fight. "I feel this motivation, this fire, and that's why I stay focused. I want to stay busy. I want to stay hungry. I want to stay focused, humble. This is the key."

Nurmagomedov returns to face Poirier (21-5, 1 no-contest), who claimed an interim lightweight title belt during Nurmagomedov's suspension by beating Max Holloway.

Unlike the theatrics around his bout last year with McGregor, Nurmagomedov has a clear mutual respect with Poirier. Instead of a clash of personalities, this fight will be a contrast of style and strengths.

"My last fight, it was a little bit crazy and tough fight," Nurmagomedov said. "But now I have an opponent I want to show respect to, and it's all about respect. That's why we both show respect. But when the cage closes, it's going to be a very good, high-level matchup."

Key Points

• Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Dustin Poirier by submission (RNC, round three)
• Paul Felder def. Edson Barboza by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)
• Islam Makhachev def. Davi Ramos by decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-26)
• Curtis Blaydes def. Shamil Abdurakhimov by TKO (2:22 of round two)
• Carlos Diego Ferreira def. Mairbek Taisumov by decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)

[7 September 2019 21:14 · Alex Pattle]

It's main event time.

Anybody else's hairs starting to stand on end?

[7 September 2019 21:17 · Alex Pattle]

Undisputed lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagodemov is undefeated (27-0).

Interim champ Dustin Poirier (25-5, 1 no contest) has beaten four world champions in his last four fights, stopping three of them.

This is a massive fight, ladies and gentlemen.

The UFC lightweight belts are about to be unified in Abu Dhabi.

[7 September 2019 21:19 · Alex Pattle]

Poirier is walking out to James Brown's 'The Boss'.

Well, he's running out.

[7 September 2019 21:20 · Alex Pattle]

This was expected to be a pro-Khabib crowd, and there are in fact some boos raining down on Poirier as he makes his way to the octagon.

[7 September 2019 21:22 · Alex Pattle]

Here comes Khabib. He last fought in October last year, when he made his first lightweight title defence.

That contest saw him submit Conor McGregor in the fourth round in Las Vegas, before a brawl ensued, leading to the suspensions of both competitors.

There's much more respect between Khabib and Poirier, so hopefully we won't have any such trouble tonight!

[7 September 2019 21:23 · Alex Pattle]

It's hard to tell exactly what music Khabib is walking out to, but it sounds like Beyonce?

Couldn't have predicted that.

[7 September 2019 21:26 · Alex Pattle]

Both men are 30-years-old. Khabib has a one-inch height advantage, Poirier has a two-inch reach advantage.

[7 September 2019 21:26 · Alex Pattle]

Bruce Buffer is going out of his way to make his introductions extra special. You love to hear it.

[7 September 2019 21:28 · Alex Pattle]

[7 September 2019 21:28 · Alex Pattle]

Here. We. Go.