UFC 302 LIVE: Poirier vs Makhachev fight updates and results as champion retains in final round
Re-live all the action after Dustin Poirier came up short against Islam Makhachev in their lightweight title fight
Dustin Poirier was denied a fairytale ending to his story in the Octagon on Saturday, as Islam Makhachev submitted the fan favourite to retain the lightweight title at UFC 302.
Poirier, 35, was fighting for the title for the third time, having previously suffered submission losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019 and Charles Oliveira in 2021.
The American previously held the interim belt but failed to unify the gold, and he hinted before and after UFC 302 that he might not fight again.
Poirier did himself justice across four-and-a-half rounds against Makhachev, the UFC’s pound-for-pound No 1, but the Russian out-grappled Poirier for much of the bout and secured a D’Arce choke in the final frame. Poirier tapped out but also seemed to go unconscious immediately after – for a brief moment – as Makhachev recorded a third successful title defence.
In doing so, Makhachev matched the number of defences achieved by Khabib, his coach and childhood friend, who reigned from 2018 until his in-ring retirement in 2020. Re-live UFC 302 updates and see all results below.
UFC 302 LIVE: Makhachev tops pound-for-pound rankings
Islam Makhachev is the UFC’s pound-for-pound No 1 fighter – and he’s ours, too.
Find out why:
The Independent’s pound-for-pound UFC rankings
Here are our top 10 men’s fighters in the UFC, in a list to be updated throughout the year
UFC 302: Khabib returns to coach Makhachev against familiar foe Poirier
Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in Makhachev’s corner this evening, coaching his childhood friend against Poirier.
Makhachev is seeking a third successful lightweight title defence, which would see the Russian match his childhood friend Khabib, who retained the belt three times before retiring undefeated and as champion in 2020.
After hanging up the gloves, Khabib spent a spell as a coach and guided Makhachev to the lightweight title in 2022. The 35-year-old later decided to stop training fighters, but he will return to Makhachev’s corner on Saturday.
“This means a lot,” Makhachev said. “This is like [adding] to striking 20 per cent, to wrestling 20 per cent, to the plan. It’s always great to have Khabib in the corner, because I think he gives me good advice in a lot of fights.”
More from Makhachev here:
Khabib Nurmagomedov returns at UFC 302 to coach Makhachev against Poirier
Khabib beat Poirier in 2019 and will now coach his childhood friend against the American
UFC 302 LIVE: Makhachev takes issue with Poirier insult at face-off
“I don’t understand you,” Poirier told Makhachev on Thursday, after failing to hear what the Russian said at the start of their face-off. “I’m gonna knock you out Saturday. I’m gonna sleep-slap you.
“You’re gonna be diving for my legs, praying. You’re gonna be laying and praying, that’s what you’re gonna be doing. You’re going to sleep, motherf****r.”
Makhachev took issue with Poirier’s final insult, saying: “Don’t say ‘motherf****r’.” When Poirier repeated the word, Makhachev reiterated: “Don’t say ‘motherf****r’.”
As Makhachev was held back by security, Poirier said: “I have respect for you, brother. We’re gonna fight.”
More here:
‘Don’t say that’: Islam Makhachev takes issue with Dustin Poirier insult at face-off
The lightweights were held back from each other before their title fight on Saturday
UFC 302 LIVE: Poirier teases retirement after Makhachev fight – win or lose
Whether he wins or loses tonight, this could be Dustin Poirier’s last dance.
“I’m not going to climb the ladder again,” he told CBS last week. “I’ve been doing this a long time.
“It’s a very selfish sport. I’m ready to be a father and be a husband and be home and be into a routine. I wouldn’t say I can’t do it again; I can do it again, it’s just...
“This is it for me. This could be the last one. I’m still on the fence, win or lose. I just want to be content with my career. It’s a thing where I have to digest it and be okay with it [if I lose], because that’s how life goes.
“Of course, I’m looking at the brighter side and trying to be positive that I’m going to finish the story and seal the deal and become undisputed lightweight champ after my 31st fight in the UFC. What a story that would be.”
More here:
Dustin Poirier teases retirement ahead of UFC 302 title fight
The former interim champion, 35, is hoping to win an undisputed title at the third time of asking
UFC 302 LIVE: Poirier vs Makhachev
Islam Makhachev will defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302 tonight, as the “Diamond” gets one last shot at undisputed gold.
Poirier, a veteran and fan favourite, previously held the interim belt but has twice failed to win the official lightweight title. In 2019, the American was submitted by then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, and in 2021, Poirier lost a title fight against Charles Oliveira – again losing via submission.
As such, Poirier has admitted that he could retire after UFC 302, regardless of his result against Makhachev, who is a mentee and childhood friend of Khabib. In fact, Nurmagomedov will be in Makhachev’s corner in New Jersey, as the champion seeks a third successful title defence.
Makhachev, the UFC’s pound-for-pound No 1, won the title by submitting Oliveira in 2022, and the Russian retained the belt twice in 2022 – beating Alexander Volkanovski both times. Volkanovski, who was featherweight champion at the time, lost to Makhachev on points then by knockout.
In tonight’s co-main event, ex-middleweight champion Sean Strickland faces former No 1 contender Paulo Costa. Their clash, like the main event, is scheduled for five rounds. Follow UFC 302 live updates and results right here.
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