ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim titleholder Dustin Poirier each made weight on Friday ahead of their 155-pound unification clash at UFC 242.
Nurmagomedov (27-0) was the first fighter on the scale at the Crowne Plaza hotel on Friday morning, local time, and weighed in at 155 pounds. Nurmagomedov stripped off all of his clothes to make weight, but did not appear to be too drained from the weight cut. Poirier (25-5) weighed in immediately after, also at 155 pounds.
By rule, the fighters had a two-hour window to make the championship weight, but both opted to accomplish the task as early as possible.
The 155-pound unification bout is now official to headline UFC 242 on Saturday. The event is the first of a new five-year partnership between the UFC and Abu Dhabi.
The main card pay-per-view will air Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+, followed by the post show at 5 ET.
Nurmagomedov, of Dagestan, is seeking his second lightweight title defense. He last defended his belt in October, in a fourth-round submission win against Conor McGregor. Poirier, who is from Louisiana and fights out of south Florida, won the interim title by defeating Max Holloway via unanimous decision in April.