Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Headlines UFC 302 Fight Card

In a highly anticipated showdown, Islam Makhachev is set to defend his UFC lightweight title against Dustin Poirier on June 1 in the main event of UFC 302 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Makhachev, with an impressive record of 25-1, is currently ranked as MMA Fighting’s No. 1 lightweight and pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The protege of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev is on a 13-fight win streak in the octagon and will tie the all-time record for consecutive lightweight title defenses with a win over Poirier. Having previously defeated Charles Oliveira and Alexander Volkanovski, Makhachev is looking to solidify his dominance in the division.

On the other hand, Poirier, with a record of 30-8, 1 NC, is ranked as the No. 6 lightweight in the world by MMA Fighting. A former interim champion and two-time challenger for the undisputed belt, Poirier has faced and defeated some of the biggest names in the division, including Max Holloway, Conor McGregor, and Justin Gaethje. Poirier has hinted that this could be his final run towards the title, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup.

In addition to the main event, UFC 302 will also feature a co-headlined matchup between Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa in a five-round, non-title middleweight bout. The full fight card includes exciting matchups across various weight classes, promising an action-packed night for MMA fans.