Order now! UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier, Saturday at 10pm ET on ESPN+
Islam Makhachev may have had a tougher fight than expected against Dustin Poirier, but the challenge turned out to be extremely beneficial for the Dagestan champion.
On Saturday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, in the main event of UFC 302, Makhachev defeated Poirier by submission in the fifth round to retain his lightweight title. Poirier probably got the best of him in the fourth round and proved to be a competitive opponent before succumbing to a Bravo choke in the final round. As a result, Makhachev and Poirier earned “Fight of the Night” honors and a $50,000 prize, while Makhachev also won the evening’s $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award, bringing his total bonuses to $100,000.
Meanwhile, Kevin Holland earned himself a quick submission win over Michal Oleksiejczuk in a featured middleweight bout, earning him the $50,000 “Performance of the Night” prize. Shaken in the early going, Holland capitalized on his opponent’s aggressive attacks and scored an armbar. The Pole refused to tap, but the bout was stopped after it was determined his arm may have been broken during the hold at 1 minute, 34 seconds into the first round.
Order now! UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier, Saturday at 10pm ET on ESPN+
