Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier, UFC 302 official weigh-in Photo by Dylan Napoleon/Cageside Press
Legacy. Saturday’s UFC 302 main event boils down to legacy. For Islam Makhachev, it’s another big win and, with a bit of luck, a chance to move up to welterweight. For Dustin Poirier, it’s his final shot at the undisputed UFC lightweight championship.
There aren’t many stories as simple, pure and compelling as this, and it also gives Makhachev a chance to surpass his coach, friend and teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov in terms of wins inside the UFC Octagon.
Setting the stakes as high as possible, Poirier opened the bout with a kick to the calf and Makhachev responded with a front kick. As Poirier fired punches, Makhachev drove him to his heels with a combination, then went in for a takedown and scored it with apparent ease. Half guard, dry, on the ground early. Makhachev was exactly where he wanted to be. It was the worst-case scenario for Dustin Poirier.
A few minutes later, Poirier was forced to attempt a kimura, which he managed to escape with disastrous results: Poirier had the champion on his back as he escaped a series of moves and secured a body lock with half the round still to go. Makhachev applied a rear-naked choke, then went for the arm, but Poirier survived the round as time expired.
The second round began with a leg kick from Poirier, which caused Makhachev to dive to his feet and drag his challenger down. Poirier managed to escape, somewhat boosting morale, but he still wasn’t getting very far on the offensive, and Makhachev landed a knee. The second round calmed down a bit, with Makhachev getting to his feet and trading with Poirier, but he got to his feet again with two minutes left. Poirier defended with a whizzer and turned around, eliciting cheers from the Newark crowd. Poirier landed uppercuts in the clinch, Makhachev fought back with knees, and the two were over soon after.
In the clinch in the final minute, Poirier tried some body work, but Makhachev scored a takedown just before the end of the round.
Poirier was back on the ground within a minute of the third round, and Makhachev scored an early takedown and took the back. The champion took Poirier down, rolled him and applied a body lock. If the first round was any indicator, Poirier wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. To make matters worse, Makhachev transitioned to mount with two minutes left. But Poirier got off the back, erupted in cheers from the arena, and moved forward, looking for a landing spot. But Poirier was bloody around his mouth and lost the fight by the time the championship rounds began.
The fourth round saw a fierce exchange in the first minute, with neither man landing much beyond body blows. Every minute the fight stood in Poirier’s favor, but Makhachev held on at the stand. Poirier showed better signs later, blocking a double leg attempt in the center, but Makhachev landed a right hand to the side of his head moments later, then a left. Another takedown attempt and Makhachev drove Poirier against the fence.
Poirier got to his feet and defended on the first attempt, but Makhachev quickly climbed onto his back, pinning Poirier down and forcing his hands to the canvas to avoid a knee. Poirier then scrambled and repeatedly ripped at the body. Makhachev was cut at one point, but Poirier ripped again in the final minute, forcing the champion to go for another takedown.
In the fifth and final round, Dustin Poirier definitely needed the finish. A minute in, Poirier landed a kick to the calf, and Makhachev grabbed the leg but fought it off. In the clinch, Poirier landed an uppercut, then a left, then a body shot in the clinch. About 30 seconds later, Dustin landed a left, and Makhachev went for a takedown, but Poirier escaped. Moments later, Makhachev jumped in for a guillotine, switched to Darcet, and it worked. Poirier was forced to tap, and his team swarmed the Octagon to celebrate Islam Makhachev’s 14th consecutive UFC win, and in the process, he also defended his lightweight title.
Official result: Islam Makhachev defeats Dustin Poirier by submission (d’Arce choke), Round 5, 2:42
