“If Justin can keep his back off the fence, I believe he can out-scramble Khabib in the open. I think he’s got such a pedigree in collegiate wrestling and the open mat area is gonna be where Justin shines in the wrestling,” said “The Diamond” Poirier, adding that he is still recovering from his fight-of-the-year contender with Hooker.

“If Khabib gets him to the fence, I believe Justin will be in trouble. We’ll see if he sticks to the game plan – I assume that’s his game plan, stick to the middle, make Khabib wrestle in the open, and throw big punches.”

“If I’m to get a title shot and Justin wins then that lines itself up more, right? It’s more a guaranteed lock for me to fight for the belt because I’m the last guy to beat him,” he said.

“I’m the only guy still in the organisation to beat him, so it’s the fight that makes sense and I know he wants that fight as well.”