Just over a month ago, fans were treated to an electrifying night of mixed martial arts, marking one of the sport’s most memorable events. Now, as we gear up for UFC 302 Makhachev vs. Poirier, the excitement continues, albeit with a tough act to follow.
UFC 302, taking place this Saturday in Newark, New Jersey (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET), may not be as stacked from top to bottom as April’s milestone event, but the headline attraction is as good as it gets. The pound-for-pound king, Islam Makhachev, will defend his lightweight championship against longtime luminary Dustin Poirier. This fight needs no added selling points, but there’s a special twist: Poirier, at age 35, is likely making his final bid for gold.
Main Event: Lightweight Championship
Islam Makhachev (25-1) will defend his lightweight championship against Dustin Poirier (30-8, 1 NC). Makhachev’s reign has been anything but easy. His first title defense was against Alexander Volkanovski, the consensus No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter at the time. Their February 2023 superfight was tightly contested, and Makhachev’s victory catapulted him to the P4P peak. Eight months later, in a rematch, he solidified his status by knocking out Volkanovski in the first round.
Now, Makhachev, winner of 13 fights in a row, will face someone his own size. Poirier, fully appreciative of this precious opportunity, has been here before. In 2019, he challenged Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev’s longtime friend and training partner, for the lightweight belt and lost by submission. Two years later, Poirier was tapped out by Charles Oliveira in another title attempt. Despite these setbacks, Poirier earned his shot by defeating rising young contender Benoît Saint Denis in March with a knockout.
Poirier hasn’t explicitly said this is his final fight, but he has questioned whether he’d have the will to build another championship run if he falls short this time. If he succeeds on Saturday, he might take his belt and go home—for good. Poirier will leave behind a memorable legacy, not defined by his two failed title shots, but by his interim belt win in 2019 and victories over several UFC champions: Anthony Pettis, Eddie Alvarez, Max Holloway, and Conor McGregor twice. Poirier has already done himself and his sport proud, but Saturday could be a glorious culmination.
Intriguing Undercard
While UFC 302 doesn’t boast wall-to-wall star power, there’s plenty of intrigue throughout the fight lineup. Fans can expect exciting matchups and emerging talent eager to make their mark.
Catch all the action and see if Poirier can secure his legacy or if Makhachev will continue his dominant reign. Tune in to UFC 302 Makhachev vs. Poirier this Saturday to witness these storylines unfold.
