MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has surprisingly changed his prediction for the upcoming UFC 264 showdown between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.
Poirier, 32, defied the odds and forced a stunning second-round stoppage victory over McGregor in their UFC 257 rematch in January.
McGregor stopped Poirier in the first round of their initial clash at UFC 178 in 2014, but the 32-year-old Irishman will have the chance to avenge his UFC 257 defeat in July.
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UFC has booked the trilogy fight between McGregor and Poirier for 10th July at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Khabib, who defeated both McGregor and Poirier, previously predicted that his fierce rival could win inside two rounds.
However, the 32-year-old Russian superstar added that Poirier would defeat McGregor if the UFC 264 clash went beyond two rounds.
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Asked for his prediction on UFC's Lookin' For a Fight show, Khabib said at the time: "Just two rounds -- Conor.
"Early, it's Conor. But, third round, number four, I think Dustin can beat this guy."
Now, Khabib has slightly changed his prediction and warned McGregor he must replicate his UFC 178 result to win.
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The Eagle claims McGregor can win if he stops Poirier in the first round, but he ruled out his chances if the fight heads into the second round or beyond.
"If it's the first round [for a finish], I'd back Conor," Khabib told RT.
"From the second round and further, then Dustin wins."
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UFC legend Georges St-Pierre, on the other hand, has backed McGregor to bounce back from his defeat against the Diamond.
The 40-year-old Canadian star predicted that McGregor will win in the second round by knockout, saying that the Notorious does very well in rematches.
Speaking to Firas Zahabi on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, GSP explained: "I think McGregor is very good in rematches, and I think he's going to have the victory.
"I think he's probably going to win in the second round. A knockout."
Featured Image Credit: RT/Conor McGregor & Dustin Poirier's InstagramTopics: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor Mcgregor, Dustin Poirier, UFC, MMA