Interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier blogs for MMA Junkie each week on the road to his UFC 242 title-unification bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov, which takes place Sept. 7 at The Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

In the fourth edition of “Dustin’s Diaries,” Poirier (25-5 MMA, 17-4 UFC) closes out training camp for Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA, 11-0 UFC) and reveals how important his tight-knit coaching staff will be to him claiming the undisputed 155-pound belt.

* * * *

The importance of my inner-circle

I don’t listen to criticism from anyone unless I would take advice from them. Unless you’re part of my camp, part of my family, part of something that I respect, and I believe your word and we’re on the same level, or you’re inside of my circle, I don’t take advice from anyone.

I went to American Top Team back in 2012, and here we are in a champion-vs.-champion fight about to unify the belts, and my same group of coaches has been there the whole way. They have helped me and directed me and tightened up a lot of parts of my game. Those guys that are in my circle and are in my corner are people that I respect their word and I really care for them.

I’m really hitting a stride in my career, and these guys have been a part of that growth. Dan Lambert, Mike Brown, Dyah Davis, Phil Daru, Ryan Quinn and Thiago Alves are just a few who have helped me. We’re like a family, and it’s not just my cornermen and my team. These guys are part of this journey with me – forever.

It’s going to be a fight, not a wrestling match

I have so many fights at this point, and I’m aware this is a crazy thing we do. If I think too much about the takedowns of Khabib, I’ll get hit with an overhand. If I think too much about the overhand, then I’ll get taken down. It’s just a balance of everything. Of course we see where he wins fights, and we’re working on countering that, but at the same time, it’s still the full game of mixed martial arts.

Wrestling was a huge part of the camp, and it’s grinding. I would wrestle plenty in previous camps, but not to this level. Not with the caliber of guys I’ve been working with, and this camp really pushed me. I’m going to be a better fighter because of this training camp. Not just for this fight, but in the future overall. This leveled me up, and I can’t wait to show the world how great I am.

Preparing for Abu Dhabi

I leave for Abu Dhabi on Thursday, which is nine days out from the fight. All the work is done, and now it switches to worrying about my weight because all the training and all the preparation is finished. What I’m leaving with is what I’m bringing into the fight as far as skills and conditioning. I’ve turned to getting my weight down, and I’m exactly where I want to be. I’m just being happy and enjoying the process, and it makes it easier to be laid back because I know all the work is done.

This is a monumental fight for my career and mixed martial arts history. They’re building an arena for me to compete in. I love the history. I love the story that I had to take to get here. When I lay down in bed at night, I envision myself getting the belt wrapped around me once again and being the undisputed world champion, flying back to America with my wife, and it makes me feel good. Let’s go.