UFC 242: Khabib Submits Poirier, Keeps Title

By Fight Sports Sep 7, 2019 Last updated Sep 12, 2019

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s return to the Octagon was a successful one, as he stopped interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier via submission in the main event of UFC 242, which takes place at du Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

#UFC242 Official Result: @TeamKhabib def Dustin Poirier by submission due to a Rear Naked Choke at 2:06 in Round 3.

Final results ➡️: https://t.co/yAC0DpyQge pic.twitter.com/8oPsD7GcUf

— UFC News (@UFCNews) September 7, 2019

Nurmagomedov has now made a second successful UFC lightweight title defense and solidifies himself as the undisputed champion.

2️⃣8️⃣-0️⃣!!!

The standard for all LWs to be judged! @TeamKhabib #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/oRuw9AGWHo

— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019

It's a party #InAbuDhabi tonight! 🏆 #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/198p4Nv7yC

— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2019

The bout between Nurmagomedov and Poirier got off to a slow start, but once the Dagestani champ took Poirier down, the first was all Nurmagomedov. He was unrelenting in submission attempts and delivered hard ground-and-pound before the horn saved the interim champ.

Poirier battled back in round two, briefly stunning Khabib with a shot upstairs and applying pressure before tiring out and getting taken down by Nurmagomedov once more. Poirier once again came out firing in the third, this time nearly sinking in a guillotine before Nurmagomedov shook him off.

Nurmagomedov then managed to secure a choke in that third round, forcing the tap at just over two minutes in.

UFC 242 Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 2 p.m. ET):
(c.) Khabib Nurmagomedov def. (ic.) Dustin Poirier via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 3, 2:06)
Paul Felder def. Edson Barboza via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)
Islam Makhachev def. Davi Ramos via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Curtis Blaydes def. Shamil Abdurakhimov via TKO (Rd. 2, 2:22)
Carlos Diego Ferreira def. Mairbek Taisumov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)

UFC 242 Preliminary Card (ESPN+/FX, 12 p.m. ET):
Joanne Calderwood def. Andrea Lee via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Zubaira Tukhugov vs. Lerone Murphy goes to a split draw (28-29, 29-28, 28-28)
Sarah Moras def. Liana Jojua via TKO (Rd. 3, 2:26)
Ottman Azaitar def. Teemu Packalen via KO (Rd. 1, 3:33)

UFC 242 Early Prelim Card (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass, 10 a.m. ET):
Belal Muhammad def. Takashi Sato via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 3, 1:55)
Muslim Salikhov def. Nordine Taleb via TKO (Rd. 1, 4:26)
Omari Akhmedov def. Zak Cummings via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Don Madge def. Fares Ziam via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)