- Makhachev triumphed in the fifth round of the lightweight battle at UFC 302
- The headline fight showed off the strengths of both Makhachev and Poirier
- Makhachev extended his winning run to 14, the third highest in UFC history
Islam Makhachev retained his lightweight title after submitting Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.
The five-round battle went back and forth as both men were able to put their strengths on display. Makhachev scored with much control time when he successfully took Poirier down. Meanwhile Poirier managed to do damage when he kept the fight standing.
After getting the fight back on the canvas in the fifth round, Makhachev secured a d’arce choke in the third minute.
Makhachev officially tallied five takedowns out of 16 attempts. He also attempted two submissions before sinking the finish in the fifth.
Islam Makhachev retained his lightweight title by submitting Dustin Poirier at UFC 302
After a back and forth fight, Makhachev secured a d’arce choke midway through the fifth
The champion landed 147 total and 88 significant strikes. Meanwhile, the Diamond landed 104 total and 74 significant strikes.
After the event, UFC chief Dana White named the headliner Fight of the Night, saying: ‘You couldn’t ask for a better main event.’ Makhachev, alongside Kevin Holland, was also given a Performance of the Night bonus.
The Prudential Center was sold out with 17,834 fans in attendance. The event also amassed a $7.25m gate, overtaking the Rolling Stones in the venue.
The audience included former US President Donald Trump, who received an incredible welcome in New Jersey. Several fighters celebrated with Trump following their wins. Namely, Holland and Sean Strickland.
Holland secured a first round stoppage over Michael Oleksiejczuk in their middleweight meeting. After locking in a tight arm bar in the first round, referee Herb Dean had to save the Polish fighter from a broken arm as he refused to submit.
Trailblazer quickly jumped out of the cage, shook Trump’s hand and shared a few words with the former president after the victory. While Trump kept his cool, Holland was over the moon as White smiled in the background.
On the other hand Strickland secured a split decision over Paulo Costa in the co-main event. Like Holland, he stepped off the stage and shook hands with the former president to celebrate.
With his win, Makhachev extended his win streak to 14, the third longest in the UFC behind Anderson Silva (16) and Kamaru Usman (15).
