UFC 302: Poirier loses title fight against Makhachev – and hints at retirement

“That could have been it”
UFC legend Poirier fails spectacularly – and hints at retirement

02.06.2024, 08:09 a.m.

With Dustin Poirier, one of the most deserving UFC fighters gets another chance to win a title. He fails against the dominant lightweight champion Islam Makhachev – and thinks about ending his career. In the second main fight, fans expect a spectacle – but in the end all that remains is a selfie with Trump.

Islam Makhachev defended his lightweight title against veteran Dustin Poirier at the MMA event UFC 302 in Newark with a submission victory in the fifth round. While the Russian is now chasing a title in a new weight class, the American hinted at the end of his career.

In the first round, the champion fired a series of punches into the challenger’s defense and achieved a takedown. On the ground, Makhachev worked with his usual confidence, first applying a Kimura grip and thereby conquering Poirier’s back. Poirier was able to defend himself against further attempts at submission holds, but had to lose the round on points.

The American had better moments in the second round. He defended the first takedown attempts solidly and had the better cards in the exchange of blows with the Russian. Even when Makhachev switched to the clinch, Poirier used uppercuts to break free. A few seconds before the end of the round, the champion managed a takedown – and stole the round.

Poirier intercepts takedown attempts

Makhachev started better in the third round. In the clinch, he gave Poirier a powerful knee strike and pressed his opponent against the cage fence. There he improved his position before Poirier could somehow get up. A fired up Poirier then took more risks, landed good punches, but also caught a few counters from Makhachev. The fourth round was then packed with highlights: Poirier gave the champion a deep cut on the forehead with an elbow, Makhachev had many good punch combinations, but failed with his takedown attempts.

The decision in round five was somewhat surprising. In the middle of the cage, where Poirier usually defended himself so well, Makhachev grabbed the American’s leg, pulled him off balance and applied a submission hold on the ground. The D’Arce choke was ultimately too tight and Poirier tapped out.

Makhachev praised Poirier’s takedown defense and praised his opponent as a legend of the sport. He now wants to move up a weight class – welterweight – and fight for the title. The 35-year-old Poirier, on the other hand, hinted at the end of his career. “That could be it,” he said after the fight. “I know that I can keep up with the best.” But he doesn’t have to fight just to prove it to himself. He then thanked his family for their years of support.

Fireworks for Strickland vs. Costa?

The two middleweight fighters Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa promised fireworks before the cage duel. The former champion in the weight class is just as polarizing as the Brazilian in and outside the octagon. For both, it was about winning and getting another title fight. However, there was little to see of the promised fireworks. Costa danced around his opponent, landing many leg kicks and a few punches to the body. The American marched steadily towards the Brazilian, but only landed a few hits.

In the second round, the former champion performed a little better, repeatedly landing front kicks to his opponent’s stomach. Costa stuck to the plan of not letting himself be challenged and allowing Strickland to land punch combinations. It was no different in the third round: Strickland had the better hits, Costa only occasionally successful.

In the end, all that remains is a selfie with Trump

For the Brazilian, everything was at stake in the final two rounds. Costa remained cautious, but now aimed more for the head and had success with jabs. He also threw leg kicks, but Strickland simply shrugged them off. In the fifth round, Costa landed the majority of significant hits for the first time in the fight, but he didn’t look particularly confident. Especially because Strickland’s boxing was always there – and he brought the climax to the fight with a high kick at the end of the round.

Two of the judges scored the fight for Strickland, one for the Brazilian. After his victory by split decision, the 33-year-old stormed over to Donald Trump, who was right next to the cage. There he took a selfie with the former president. In the interview after the fight, Strickland also dedicated a few words to Trump: “It’s a farce what they’re doing to you,” said Strickland, alluding to the guilty verdict in the hush money trial.