UFC 242 Results: Khabib vs Poirier Full Fight Card Analysis
The world of mixed martial arts stood still when the Octagon landed in Abu Dhabi for a historic night of fights. UFC 242 This massive event brought together two of the best lightweight fighters on the planet to see who truly ruled the 155-pound division. Fans from all corners of the globe tuned in to watch an unforgettable evening full of heavy hits, dramatic submissions, and intense rivalries. It was a card that lived up to the massive hype and changed the course of divisional history.
Our deep-dive review breaks down every major moment from the historic evening, focusing on the big fights that left everyone talking. Whether you want to relive the legendary main event or check out the full undercard results, we have you covered. Let us take a trip down memory lane to see how one incredible night in the desert solidified legacies and shook up world rankings.
What Made the Abu Dhabi Showdown So Special?
The energy surrounding the event was unlike anything else because the sport was returning to the United Arab Emirates in a purpose-built arena on Yas Island. The local crowd was incredibly passionate, creating a loud, roaring environment for every single fighter who walked out. Having a major pay-per-view card outside the United States always adds a unique flavor to the sport, making the stakes feel truly international.
The biggest story of the night was the return of the undefeated lightweight champion, who was putting his perfect record on the line. Facing him was a highly respected interim titleholder known for his gritty style, elite boxing skills, and massive heart. This classic clash of styles between a master grappler and a relentless striker promised fireworks, making ufc 242 a landmark event for combat sports.
The Epic Main Event: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Dustin Poirier
The headlining bout was a highly anticipated lightweight title unification fight that put fans on the edge of their seats. From the opening bell, the undisputed champion applied his famous forward pressure, trying to take the space away from his opponent. The challenger used his footwork well early on, trying to land hard counter punches to keep the dangerous grappler away. However, the champion’s relentless wrestling pace began to take over as the first round went along.
In the second round, the American challenger found a moment of hope by landing a massive right hand that visibly rocked the champion. For a brief few seconds, it looked like an upset was brewing in the desert heat. But the champion showed an incredible chin and recovered quickly, diving back into his signature ground game to slow things down. By the time the third round arrived, the relentless pressure proved to be too much to handle, ending the battle cleanly.
How the Crucial Submission Finished the Fight
The end of the main event came down to a battle of wills on the canvas during the third round. Before the finish, the challenger actually locked in a very tight guillotine choke that briefly worried the champion’s corner. It was the absolute closest anyone had come to putting the undefeated king in real danger for a long time. The crowd gasped as the American squeezed with all his remaining strength to secure the tap.
The champion stayed completely calm under extreme pressure, using his elite grappling experience to slide his head out of danger safely. Once he escaped the submission attempt, he immediately advanced his position to take his opponent’s back. With a lightning-fast transition, he sank in a deep rear-naked choke that forced a quick tap-out at the 2:06 mark. This spectacular finish proved once again why his ground game is considered the most dominant weapon in MMA history.
Paul Felder vs Edson Barboza: A Brutal Lightweight Rematch
The co-main event featured a highly violent and personal rematch between two premium strikers in the lightweight division. Having fought years earlier, both men knew exactly what to expect, and they wasted no time trading heavy leather. The Brazilian leg-kick specialist opened up with thunderous kicks that echoed throughout the arena, bruising his opponent’s body early. It was a true display of modern Muay Thai inside the cage.
The American counter-striker, known as “The Irish Dragon,” refused to back down and pushed forward through the damage to land heavy elbows. One of those elbows caused a massive cut on his opponent, turning the fight into a bloody, dramatic war of attrition. After three rounds of absolute chaos, the judges turned in a highly debated split decision victory for the American. This classic back-and-forth war easily earned its place as one of the best moments on the entire card.
Islam Makhachev Shows Off Future Championship Skills
Long before he captured the world title himself, a young rising star from Dagestan showed the world what he was capable of on this card. Facing a highly decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, the young contender chose to showcase his sharp kickboxing and smart positional pressure. He did not rush into bad positions, choosing instead to pick his shots carefully from the outside.
As the fight progressed, his technical striking accuracy completely picked apart his opponent over fifteen minutes. He also mixed in timely takedown defense to keep the action exactly where he wanted it. The dominant unanimous decision victory proved that he was much more than just a training partner to the main event champion. It was a breakout performance that signaled a changing of the guard in the top tier of the division.
Heavyweight Power: Curtis Blaydes Dominates Shamil Abdurakhimov
The main card featured a massive collision in the heavyweight division that promised a violent finish between two big punchers. A top-tier American wrestler utilized his massive size and wrestling background to completely dominate the action from the opening seconds. He wasted no time shooting for heavy double-leg takedowns, slamming his opponent to the mat with ease.
Once the fight hit the canvas, the American unleashed a terrifying wave of ground-and-pound strikes. He landed devastating elbows and short punches that broke his opponent’s nose in the second round. The referee was forced to step in and stop the damage at the 2:22 mark of round two. This dominant TKO victory kept the powerful wrestler right at the top of the heavyweight title picture.
Mairbek Taisumov vs Diego Ferreira: A Tactical War
Kicking off the main card was an action-packed lightweight bout between two surging contenders looking to crack the top fifteen world rankings. The Brazilian ground expert surprised many fans by choosing to stand up and trade strikes with a known knockout artist. He used a relentless pace, throwing high volumes of punches to keep his opponent backing up constantly.
The dangerous striker landed a few heavy counter-punches, but he quickly ran out of gas under the non-stop pressure. The Brazilian out-landed him in every single round, showing off a vastly improved kickboxing game. When the final bell rang, the judges awarded a clear unanimous decision victory to the hard-working Brazilian. This performance proved he could hang with the absolute most dangerous strikers in the division.
Complete UFC 242 Fight Card Results Table
To help you see how the entire night played out, we have put together a complete results table. This includes every single match from the early preliminary fights all the way up to the historic main event championship bout.
| Weight Class | Winner | Loser | Method of Victory | Round | Time |
| Lightweight Title | Khabib Nurmagomedov | Dustin Poirier | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 3 | 2:06 |
| Lightweight | Paul Felder | Edson Barboza | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Lightweight | Islam Makhachev | Davi Ramos | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Heavyweight | Curtis Blaydes | Shamil Abdurakhimov | TKO (Elbows and Punches) | 2 :— | 2:22 |
| Lightweight | Diego Ferreira | Mairbek Taisumov | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Women’s Flyweight | Joanne Wood | Andrea Lee | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Featherweight | Zubaira Tukhugov | Lerone Murphy | Draw (Split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Bantamweight | Sarah Moras | Liana Jojua | TKO (Punches and Elbows) | 3 | 2:26 |
| Lightweight | Ottman Azaitar | Teemu Packalén | KO (Punch) | 1 | 3:33 |
| Welterweight | Belal Muhammad | Takashi Sato | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 3 | 1:55 |
| Welterweight | Muslim Salikhov | Nordine Taleb | KO (Punch) | 1 | 4:26 |
| Middleweight | Omari Akhmedov | Zak Cummings | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Lightweight | Don Madge | Farès Ziam | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
Top Highlights from the Action-Packed Preliminary Card
The undercard fights featured some of the most spectacular finishes of the entire weekend, keeping the early crowd highly entertained. UFC 242 A rising lightweight prospect from Morocco made a massive statement by scoring a scary one-punch knockout in the very first round. The clean right hand sent his opponent face-first to the canvas, immediately earning him a performance bonus.
Another massive highlight was a wild featherweight battle that ended in a rare split-draw decision after three rounds of non-stop action. Both men traded heavy knockdowns and deep submission attempts, leaving everything they had inside the cage. Additionally, a veteran female bantamweight snapped her tough losing streak by securing a dominant third-round TKO using relentless ground strikes. These exciting battles set a perfect tone for the pay-per-view portion of the evening.
The Lasting Legacy of This Historic Abu Dhabi Event
Looking back, this fight card was a massive turning point for multiple divisions within the sport. The main event winner pushed his legendary undefeated record to 28-0, setting up another massive blockbuster defense down the road. It also showed the world how a champion handles true adversity inside the cage when things get tough. The event proved that mixed martial arts could thrive as a major attraction in the Middle East.
For the challenger, the tough loss was just another chapter in a legendary career filled with incredible fan-favorite battles. He earned massive respect from fans worldwide for taking the fight to the champion and almost securing a historic submission. The high-profile event drew over one million pay-per-view buys globally, making it one of the most successful and memorable events in modern sports history.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Event
Who won the main event title fight?
Khabib Nurmagomedov won the main event by defeating Dustin Poirier in the third round. He used a deep rear-naked choke to secure the victory and unify the lightweight championship belts.
Where did this special fight card take place?
The historic event took place at The Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The venue was built specifically to host this massive international sports spectacle.
Did anyone win a performance bonus money award?
Yes, four exceptional fighters received an extra fifty-thousand-dollar Performance of the Night bonus. The winners were Khabib Nurmagomedov, Ottman Azaitar, Belal Muhammad, and Muslim Salikhov for their amazing finishes.
What was the official date of this fight night?
This major pay-per-view event took place on September 7, 2019. Because of the local timezone in Abu Dhabi, the main card aired during the afternoon for viewers watching in North America.
How did the co-main event fight end?
Paul Felder defeated Edson Barboza by a highly competitive split decision after three hard rounds. Two judges scored the close contest for the American, while one judge saw it for the Brazilian.
What was the final fight record of the main champion after this event?
The dominant victory pushed the lightweight champion’s undefeated professional record to an incredible 28 wins and 0 losses. He remained completely perfect at the very top tier of combat sports.
Final Thoughts on a Legendary Night of Fights
This spectacular night of fights will always be remembered as a true masterclass in high-stakes pressure and elite world-class grappling. From the opening preliminary matches to the unforgettable submission in the main event, every single athlete gave fans their absolute money’s worth. It showcased the absolute highest level of mixed martial arts inside a beautiful international setting.
