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 21:29 · Alex Pattle]

Khabib chants are echoing around the arena. Poirier flicks a couple of kicks in the Russian's direction.

[7 September 2019 21:31 · Alex Pattle]

More kicks from Poirier - to the legs, to the body.

Khabib shoots for a takedown and Poirier defends well, but eventually goes down.

[7 September 2019 21:32 · Alex Pattle]

Khabib is already looking for a rear naked choke.

He settles for a neck crank, which submitted McGregor in the Dagestani fighter's last outing.

Poirier squirms free.

[7 September 2019 21:33 · Alex Pattle]

Poirier gets back to his feet, when he looked just moments from succumbing to a choke!

Khabib keeps the interim champ against the fence, though.

[7 September 2019 21:34 · Alex Pattle]

Khabib ends the round with some fierce ground strikes.

[7 September 2019 21:34 · Alex Pattle]

One round in the bag and it was classic Khabib.

Grappling, grinding, dominating. 

[7 September 2019 21:35 · Alex Pattle]

Poirier looks tired, but he's communicating well with his corner.

And round two is underway!

[7 September 2019 21:36 · Alex Pattle]

Khabib with a rogue flying knee, nowhere near, though.

Now Poirier comes forward and lands a strong series of punches to the Russian!

Khabib looks a little distressed...

[7 September 2019 21:38 · Alex Pattle]

Just as Poirier starts to find some success on the feet, Khabib shoots and lands the double-leg takedown.

He ties up Poirier's feet, just as he did to McGregor.

[7 September 2019 21:39 · Alex Pattle]

Poirier is back to his feet again.

'The Diamond' is so tough. He's doing about as well as he could have hoped, so far.

He's getting up every time he's taken down, and he troubled Khabib with his powerful striking early in the round.