Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (27-0, 8 KOs, 9 SUBs) will defend his title against interim champion Dustin Poirier (25-5, 12 KOs, 7 SUBs) at UFC 242 on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at a venue to be announced in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The main card airs on pay-per-view.
For once, it looks like we’ll be getting a lightweight title fight that’s based on merit - not popularity. Khabib Nurmagomedov will make his return from a suspension (courtesy of a flying jumpkick into the stands after his McGregor win) to defend his title against Dustin Poirier, who won the interim title in a tense affair against featherweight champion Max Holloway.
While casual fans would’ve loved to see a rematch with McGregor, longtime UFC followers are ecstatic that Poirier is getting the matchup he deserves. It also validates The Diamond’s interim title some, as it seemed like the UFC was doing everything in their power to render them meaningless.
Nurmagomedov is poised to become the most dominant lightweight champion in UFC history, and his flawless 27-0 record includes 11 octagon appearances and wins over Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, Michael Johnson, Al Iaquinta and Conor McGregor. The only knock against the Dagestani mauler at this point is that he hasn’t been able to get into the cage enough, with large gaps in his career due to injuries, religious observances and his recent suspension.
Poirier got here the hard way. After a flash knockout at the hands of Michael Johnson, Poirier has won five straight, a streak that features impressive victims like Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez and Holloway. That’s a murderer’s row of opponents, and none of those wins were particularly easy. Still, it’s good to see Poirier’s low-key, whatever-it-takes-mentality finally pay off.
Because of the magnitude of the fight, we’ve already got UFC odds at BookMaker.eu up. Let’s break down the opening lines and the early actions you should consider. We’ll have a detailed preview during fight week, and live UFC betting at BookMaker.eu lets you hedge your bets between rounds.
UFC Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu (Released April 15)
Khabib Nurmagomedov -250
Dustin Poirier +210
Current UFC Odds (As of May 25)
Khabib Nurmagomedov -360
Dustin Poirier +295
Significant Striking Stats
Landed per minute: Nurmagomedov 4.29 / Poirier 5.75
Accuracy: Nurmagomedov 49% / Poirier 49%
Absorbed per minute: Nurmagomedov 1.70 / Poirier 4.08
Defense: Nurmagomedov 66% / Poirier 56%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Nurmagomedov 5.09 / Poirier 1.63
Takedown accuracy: Nurmagomedov 44% / Poirier 37%
Takedown defense: Nurmagomedov 85% / Poirier 69%
Submission average: Nurmagomedov 0.6 / Poirier 1.2
Bet this UFC fight at BookMaker.eu
Khabib already opened as a sizeable favorite, but there’s already been enough action in just over a month to drive his price even higher to -360.
For comparison, Conor McGregor opened at +135 against Khabib, and Iaquinta opened at +550. Edson Barboza opened at +180 before closing at around +340 at some online sportsbooks.
Bottom line here: not many bettors are siding with Poirier. That’s understandable, considering how easily Nurmagomedov has been destroying the top tier of the UFC’s most loaded division. We don’t expect the Russian’s line to get any cheaper from here, so if you were going to bet on the linear champ our advice would to bet right now.
Conversely, if you’re convinced that Poirier gets the upset, you could either bet now or wait and see if his price gets even better. Getting a 3-1 payout is excellent, but if lines continue to trend in the same direction you very well could get even more - assuming that Poirier wins of course.
Bet UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today. UFC 242 takes place on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at a venue to be announced in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
