Islam Makhachev outstruck Dustin Poirier on the feet, and gave the three-time title challenger a familiar sense of deja vu as Khabib watched on after beautifully transitioning to a D’Arce choke submission midway through the final round of their tense, entertaining lightweight championship clash. Then, he doubled down on his ambitions to become a two-weight world titlist post-fight.
Islam ices Poirier’s title credentials after defiant display
R5, 2:42 — Islam Makhachev (c) bt. Dustin Poirier [4] via submission (D’Arce choke), makes third UFC lightweight title defence with 17th career finish
- Making plans! Islam’s post-fight interview: “Dustin did great, defended my takedowns and gave me a hard time, he’s a warrior and legend of the sport so thanks. The D’Arce is one of my favourite chokes – doesn’t matter if I’m tired, I can do it all night! It’s my dream to fight for a second belt, I want to feel that energy again, it’s not the same to defend a title, I need a new one.”
- Poirier, who sustained suspected ACL injury mid-fight, unsure about what the future holds after third unsuccessful title challenge. “Thought I was starting to chip away at him, me and Mateusz Gamrot worked for six weeks on takedown defence, I know I can compete with the best of them but what am I fighting for? I don’t know, we gotta see. Always chase your dreams.”
- Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan pay tribute to Poirier’s longevity at 35, while questions over Islam’s potential welterweight move and the options ahead begin with possible Arman Tsarukyan rematch later this year
- UFC president Dana White: “Poirier was horrified after the Khabib fight, now against his protege… worked hard on takedown defence, looked great and came close in an awesome fight. Fighters are very paranoid, they say we’re trying to get them beat but after the Saint-Denis fight, had more confidence than before. He’s a star, can stay around as along as he wants.”
DURING the pre-fight package, Islam Makhachev stated blankly what everyone previewing this title fight already knew. “Poirier doesn’t deserve this on a one-fight win streak, but he’s a legend and good for my legacy.” His two-fight series with Alexander Volkanovski enhanced that too, and the 32-year-old’s growth on this stage continues.
Perhaps that’s why the bulk of the 17,834 in New Jersey’s Prudential Center were fervently supporting Poirier, a sizeable but dangerous underdog, aware that this was probably his final hurrah at championship level unless he produced an inspiring upset before their eyes. He tried too, though Makhachev always had answers.
“I saved this card today, all these fights were boring and the whole arena almost sleeping… Dana gave me two bonuses,” Islam said in the post-fight press conference. Roundly booed entering the arena as their villain, he clearly relished the noise and silenced it emphatically, beating the Diamond at his own game.
He continually pieced up the challenger with a series of slick combinations and stinging punches that weren’t all haymakers, but didn’t need to be.
Poirier’s face was quickly wearing the damage and while encouraged to trade in the pocket upon occasion, Islam was comfortable in their stand-up exchanges even when his wrestling entries were snuffed so used variety to keep him guessing.
Significant strike totals
R1: Makhachev 6-1, 4:23 control time
R2: Makhachev 26-24
R3: Makhachev 18-15
R4: Poirier 23-20, Makhachev was 8% more efficient with 2:28 control time
R5: Makhachev 18-11
The fight itself
This was the first time that the promotion’s new gold gloves had been worn for a championship fight and within seconds, that little detail was quickly forgotten by restless onlookers after seeing Islam shoot for a takedown – the first of 16 he would try – one he secured with ease, pinning Poirier against the fence as the crowd booed.
Having sat through a half-hour war that wasn’t between former middleweight champion Sean Strickland and one-time title challenger Paulo Costa in the co-main event, the New Jersey crowd wanted something to get their juices going.
Not the visual of Poirier trapped in another chokehold, trying but failing to escape against a wrestle-focused champion who doesn’t care how he gets the job done.
Makhachev’s seamless transitions, from back control to body lock and more besides, set the tone for an exhausting opening round as he covered Poirier’s mouth, continued throwing ground strikes to soften him up and pressed intently for enough space to squeeze tightly on a submission under the neck.
Four minutes’ control time and damage done, it wasn’t looking good for Dustin. The second was better, the crowd rejoiced as he returned to his feet quickly after having a leg kick countered and soon he’d walk the champion backwards.
Knees in the clinch were Makhachev’s modus operandi to punish Poirier whenever they got too close and while successful, you could see the challenger’s measured approach was an acknowledgement of the various threats coming back his way.
Dustin would turn, kick and manoevure his body in ways to stay upright and exchange at distance but found himself outboxed throughout in his best area to win.
Makhachev landed a nice left hand, then a three-punch combo as he flurried forward with another combo and takedown attempt. Poirier defended that well, and most of the subsequent shots in the centre of the cage, before connecting on a sharp right hook and left overhand as you could sense this frenetic pace suited him more.
He needed Islam to engage to have much chance of success but right on cue, the champion completed his second takedown just before the round’s conclusion.
Poirier was noticeably sharper with his exits from the Thai clinch, though defensively he was still getting tagged too often for comfort as time wore on. Islam’s sneaky knees up the middle worked a treat early in the third, before using the threat of that as leverage to manipulate position and topple over Poirier near the fence again.
Dustin did well to reverse position and return their fight to the feet after enduring a sequence of overwhelming grappling skill and control by the champion, whose combos continued after absorbing straight shots in centre ring. As tense as their back-and-forth was gradually becoming, Makhachev’s confidence was growing.
He was honest afterwards assessing what he could’ve done differently, albeit in hindsight, and belief in his boxing skills will have sharpened after this showing.
“My mistake was… I have to believe in my striking more, I show it and stayed with him, landed a lot of good punches and almost knocked him down, believe with more I could’ve knocked him out today but it’s okay.”
- Makhachev during his post-fight presser
Islam adapts perfectly for the finishing sequence
More confident and assured in the stand-up exchanges, Poirier defended takedowns aplenty (11 of 16, 68.75%) but that constant pressure from all angles and different levels wore on him, coupled with cumulative damage.
He sliced Islam open with an elbow after again reversing position and they exchanged strikes, Poirier digging to the body while the champion teed off with more combinations, before another single-leg takedown was smartly snuffed.
Poirier landed a big left hand and felt comfortable trading in the pocket, unwise for Makhachev to follow suit but that he did and soon enough he’d get the submission he’d been chasing after adapting well to secure a beautiful transition – Poirier tapped before briefly going unconscious as referee Keith Peterson stepped in.
He ankle picked Poirier’s left leg, swept him in a circle and secured his neck almost in one fluid motion. 20 seconds later, Dustin was out and this encounter sharply ended.
The rest of UFC 302’s results
Main card
Middleweight: Sean Strickland [1] bt. Paulo Costa [7] via split decision (46-49, 50-45, 49-46)
Middle: Kevin Holland [15, welter] bt. Michal Oleksiejczuk via R1 submission (armbar, 1:34)
Welterweight: Niko Price bt. Alex Morono via UD3 (29-28 x 3)
Welter: Randy Brown bt. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos via UD3 (29-28 x 3)
Prelims
Middle: Roman Kopylov bt. Cesar Almeida via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida [7] bt. Alexander Romanov [13] via R1 submission (rear-naked choke)
Lightweight: Grant Dawson bt. Joe Solecki via UD3 (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Welter: Jake Matthews bt. Philip Rowe via UD3 (29-28 x 2, 30-27)
Early prelims
Welter: Bassil Hafez bt. Mickey Gall via UD3 (30-27 x 2, 29-28)
Women’s Bantamweight: Ailin Perez bt. Joselyne Edwards via UD3 (30-27, 29-28 x 2)
Catchweight (130lbs): Andre Lima bt. Mitch Raposo via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via UFC broadcast
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