In a recent interview, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed his plans for a potential fight between his protégé Islam Makhachev and former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier. Nurmagomedov, who retired from the sport in 2020, has been vocal about his desire to see Makhachev, the current UFC lightweight champion, take on top contenders in the division.

According to Nurmagomedov, the plan is for Makhachev to defend his title against Poirier at UFC 302, which is set to take place on October 21, 2024. Nurmagomedov believes that this matchup would be a true test for Makhachev, as Poirier is one of the most experienced and dangerous opponents he could face.

However, UFC President Dana White has shut down Nurmagomedov’s request, stating that the promotion has other plans for Makhachev and Poirier. White has indicated that Makhachev’s next title defense will likely be against a different challenger, while Poirier may be booked for a different fight.

“We have a lot of options for Islam and Dustin,” said White. “While Khabib’s input is always valuable, the UFC will ultimately make the decision on who fights who and when.”

The news of Nurmagomedov’s plan for the Makhachev-Poirier fight has generated a lot of excitement among MMA fans, who are eager to see the two top lightweights clash. Makhachev has been dominant since taking over the title, while Poirier is always a threat to any opponent he faces.

Despite Dana White’s dismissal of the idea, it’s clear that Khabib Nurmagomedov is still heavily invested in the success of his protégé, and he continues to play an active role in shaping the future of the UFC lightweight division.