Main Event Results
Islam Makhachev once again demonstrated why he is considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. In the main event of UFC 302, he submitted Dustin Poirier in the fifth round with a D’arce choke. With this victory, Makhachev successfully defended his lightweight title for the third time and extended his unbeaten streak to 14 consecutive fights. This win reinforces his position as the dominant champion of the division.
Dustin Poirier’s Legacy
Although Dustin Poirier has had an impressive career in the UFC, the loss to Makhachev could mark the end of his journey in the octagon. Poirier, who was an interim champion in 2019, has fallen to some of the best in the division, including Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. After the fight, Poirier left open the possibility of retirement, though he has not made a definitive decision yet.
Makhachev’s Next Challenge
Following his victory, Islam Makhachev expressed interest in moving up in weight to fight for the welterweight title, which will be contested by Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 on July 27. This ambition to become a two-division champion could define his next major challenge in the UFC.
Co-Main Event Results
In the co-main event, Sean Strickland defeated Paulo Costa by split decision in a middleweight bout. Strickland controlled the fight with his unorthodox and effective style, outpacing Costa in three of the five rounds.
UFC 302 Standout Performances
- Kevin Holland submitted Michal Oleksiejczuk in under two minutes with an armbar.
- Niko Price won by unanimous decision against Alex Morono.
- Randy Brown defeated Elizeu Dos Santos by unanimous decision.
- Jailton Almeida submitted Alexander Romanov with a rear-naked choke in the first round.
Preliminary Fight Wins
- Ailín Pérez defeated Joselyne Edwards by unanimous decision, marking her third consecutive victory in the bantamweight division.
- Roman Kopylov won by split decision over Cesar Almeida.
- Bassil Hafez overcame Mickey Gall by unanimous decision.
