Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier | Full Fight | UFC 302 | UFC Pakistan

Championship Showdown

• 💡 The main event featured Islam Makhachev defending his undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey.
• 🎯 Makhachev entered as a 6-1 betting favorite, highlighting the high expectations for his performance.

Early Rounds & Grappling Dominance

• 🤼‍♂️ Makhachev quickly established grappling control with beautiful takedowns, making it look easy in the first round.
• 🐍 He demonstrated a "python squeeze" and high-level control, attempting submissions like a Kimura and body triangle.
• ⚠️ Poirier showed resilient takedown defense, escaping dangerous positions and getting back to his feet multiple times.

Striking Exchanges & Poirier's Resilience

• 💥 Poirier landed clean shots, including a right hand that caused an abrasion on Makhachev's eye and an elbow that cut his forehead.
• 💪 Despite being taken down, Poirier found success with body shots and left hands, pressuring Makhachev in stand-up exchanges.
• 🤕 Both fighters sustained visible damage, with Poirier's eye swelling and nose getting messed up, and Makhachev bleeding from a forehead cut.

Corner Strategies & Adversity

• 🗣️ Poirier's corner urged him to stay off the wall and fight in the center, emphasizing body shots and volume.
• 🧠 Makhachev's corner, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, likely reinforced the ground game strategy, which was his path to victory.
• 🔥 Makhachev faced more adversity than expected, with Poirier pushing him hard, especially in rounds four and five.

The Decisive Finish

• 🥋 In Round 5, Makhachev secured a D'Arce choke during a scramble, forcing Poirier to tap out and retaining his title.
• 🏆 Makhachev's offensive submission prowess ultimately ruled the day, securing the finish in the final round.
• 💬 Post-fight, Poirier mentioned he might have gone out from the choke and reflected on his potential retirement, while Makhachev expressed a desire to fight for a second belt at 170 lbs.