Dustin Poirier put Yaroslav Amosov in the same conversation as khabib nurmagomedov, saying the 32-year-old welterweight is the closest thing he has ever felt on the mat. He also said Amosov will be a future UFC welterweight champion, adding weight to a matchup already drawing attention ahead of UFC 328.
Poirier’s Amosov comparison
“If there’s a prop line somewhere on who’s gonna be the future welterweight champion, if you could find the line for Amosov, he’s gonna be a world champion. He’s the closest thing to Khabib that I’ve ever felt. His grappling is the closest thing to Khabib that I’ve ever felt.”
Poirier said that while discussing Amosov’s title potential, and the comparison lands because it comes from a training partner at American Top Team who has felt his work firsthand. The point is not a casual compliment. It is a direct read from someone who has spent enough time with him to make the Khabib comparison specific to grappling.
Amosov’s rise to UFC 328
Amosov arrives at UFC 328 with a 29-1 record and 21 finishes. He made his UFC debut last year and submitted Neil Magny, then earned the No. 14 ranking in the UFC welterweight division after one fight.
That first UFC win came after a long run in Bellator, where he beat Douglas Lima in 2021 to win the welterweight title, defended it once against Logan Storley, and later lost it to Jason Jackson. The resume gives Poirier’s praise more weight because Amosov is not being framed as a prospect with no proven level behind him.
Odds against Alvarez
At UFC 328, Amosov is scheduled to face Alvarez as a -185 betting favorite, while Alvarez comes in at +160. Those numbers match the momentum around Amosov: he is being treated as the safer pick, and Poirier’s comments only sharpen the spotlight on a fighter whose next UFC appearance could push him closer to the title picture.
For fans tracking the welterweight class, the takeaway is simple. Amosov already has the record, the ranking and the veteran praise; UFC 328 now gives him another chance to turn that into the kind of win that moves him from respected newcomer to a real name in the division.
