Live and Exclusive in India on 7th September 2019 from 11.30 pm (IST) on SONY TEN 2 & SONY TEN 2 HD.
UFC 242
Following last week’s performance with the ladies taking the lead in the fight card, UFC now gears up for the most awaited fight of the year UFC 242 live at Abu Dhabi. The Main will feature none other than Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov facing off Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier in the lightweight category in front of the hardcore UFC fans from across the world. UFC fans have been waiting for Khabib’s next appearance in the Octagon (ever since he defeated Conor McGregor last October) and the fight against Dustin Poirier makes UFC 242 one of the biggest combat sports event of 2019.
The Lightweight Co-Main event will feature old mates, Edson Barboza and Paul Felder, who will be reuniting in the Octagon for the first time in four years after their last fight.
Weight class | All Fights on SONY TEN 2 and SONY TEN 2 HD | ||
Lightweight (Main Event) | Khabib Nurmagomedov | Vs. | Dustin Poirier |
Lightweight (Co-Main Event) | Edson Barboza | Vs. | Paul Felder |
Lightweight | Islam Makhachev | Vs. | Davi Ramos |
Heavyweight | Curtis Blaydes | Vs. | Shamil Abdurakhimov |
Lightweight | Mairbek Taisumov | Vs. | Carlos Diego Ferreira |
Lightweight (Main Event) – Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier
Khabib Nurmagomedov has been named the most successful Russian athlete of the year by Forbes, surpassing the likes of Maria Sharapova and Olga Buzova, estimating a total net worth of $11.5 million and is considered one of the most dominant Mixed Martial Artists of all time. Talking about Khabib and his moves is just like talking about the a superhero whose superpowers are known by all leaving no point of discussion. With grappling being his bread and butter, The Eagle has become a fierce striker over time. While in conversation with the fighter, Khabib mentions “I’m not like a fake champion who never defends his title. I defended one time already. I want to be undefeated, undisputed. No more interim. I want to take this. Because in the jungle there’s only one king.”
The Russian beast, boasting a perfect 27-0 record in MMA and is ranked as the #2 Pound-for-Pound Champion in the world, one spot behind American Kickboxing Academy teammate and current UFC Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Cormier.
On the other hand, Dustin Poirier, who is currently competing as an Interim Lightweight Champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship with a current fight record of 25-5-0 will be the underdog as he enters the Octagon to face off Khabib at UFC 242. However, he is a little more unpredictable. Earlier in his career, he was a go-for-broke fighter in all areas, hunting for submissions and was happy to take the fight to any area, but more recently, after his developement into one of the best strikers in the Lightweight division, building a dangerous game around insane levels of pressure boxing will be a scary sight not allowing him to push for a finish too early. On the upcoming fight with Khabib, Piorier says “That it’s a ‘great’ fight and there are only few times in our lives that we get ‘great’ opportunities like these. However, I believe that experience is not what always the way up, sometimes its consistency and self-belief. I am all set to put a loss on Khabib’s record for all the underdogs out there”
Lightweight (Co-Main Event)- Edson Barboza and Paul Felder
With the most unexpected pair for the co main event, Edson Barboza and Paul Felder will give a promising re-match fight four years after their last match. However, Edson comes with a patchy history and we hope that he leaves the audience more impressed than their expectations. Since 2017, ‘Junior’ is 1-3 in the Octagon, and two of those losses were the kind that can change a career for the worse. Firstly he was beaten to pulp by Khabib Nurmagomedov, and then just four months later Kevin Lee used Khabib’s blueprint to do the same thing to the Brazilian. However, Paul Felder who had gone 6-3 since the duo’s first match is now the No. 10 ranked competitor in the UFC lightweight division. Felder’s win over James Vick is still remembered and since then he has been able to build a strong resume at 155 pounds. The Irish Dragon, who most opponents try to close distance on is known to punish his opponents whenever they step into his physical territory, with everything from the check hook to counter knees to spinning elbows and back fists.