Khabib Nurmagomedov is an excellent 27-0 over the direction of his expert MMA profession including an eleven-0 record in the UFC. Nurmagomedov makes his long awaited return to the Octagon on Saturday to tackle Dustin Poirier in a UFC lightweight Championship unification bout inside the major event of UFC 242.

Nurmagomedov is a -450 preferred on the UFC odds to guard his championship in Abu Dhabi at sportsbooks monitored by means. After defeating Conor McGregor at UFC 229 via submission within the fourth spherical, Nurmagomedov and his crew were given in a fight with McGregor and his group in an ugly post-suit brawl that noticed each warring parties get suspended indefinitely. Nurmagomedov eventually had his ban decreased to nine months; he has been cleared to combat due to the fact that July and is in the end doing so this month.

Dustin Poirier (+325 to win) has won every of his final 5 fights. In his remaining 4 fights, he scored TKO victories over Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, and Eddie Alvarez before combating Max Holloway to a unanimous selection win for the period in-between lightweight title at UFC 236. Holloway got here up in weight for that fight, but it changed into nonetheless an impressive win for Poirier as he exceeded Holloway his first loss in view that 2014. Poirier is hoping to end another long win streak on this one.

in the co-most important event, Edson Barboza (-a hundred and fifty five) takes on Paul Felder (+one hundred twenty five) in a lightweight bout. Barboza has misplaced three of his remaining four fights and will attempt to get lower back heading in the right direction in opposition to Felder, who has won 4 of his remaining 5. those men had the combat of the night time again in 2015 on UFC on Fox 16 in which Barboza received by way of unanimous selection.

Rounding out the primary card are Islam Makhachev (-325) vs. Davi Ramos (+250), Curtis Blaydes (-450) vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov (+325), and Mairbek Taisumov (-260) vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira (+two hundred). Makhachev is off to a 17-1 begin to his expert career, and considering losing his 2d UFC bout to Adriano Martins, he has received each of his last five. Blaydes and Abdurakhimov clash in a heavyweight bout this is the most effective fight on the primary card that isn’t among lightweights at UFC 242.