Makhachev, Poirier set for lightweight title clash at UFC 302

Islam Makhachev, the UFC champion, is set to defend his title against Dustin Poirier, a former interim champion, in a highly anticipated showdown at UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey, on June 1.

This fight was officially announced by UFC President Dana White following the UFC 300 pay-per-view event held in Las Vegas.

Makhachev, hailing from Dagestan, Russia, claimed the title after defeating Charles Oliveira in October 2022.

He has successfully defended his title twice against former featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski.

With a 13-fight winning streak under his belt, Makhachev is widely regarded as a force in the lightweight division.

Poirier, also known as ‘The Diamond’, boasts a wealth of experience and achievements in the UFC.

While he previously held the title, he faced setbacks in his attempts to secure the undisputed championship.

Poiriers recent victory over Benoit Saint Denis by second-round stoppage marked a comeback from a knockout loss to Justin Gaethje earlier that year.

At 35 years old, Poirier is determined to make his mark and claim the UFC title.

The opening betting markets opened as soon as the announcement was made, with the leading UFC bookmakers heavily siding in favour of Islam Mahkachev, offering $1.20 for him to retain his belt, while Poirier opens up as a $4.40 underdog.

Apart from this headline bout, fans can look forward to matchups at UFC 302.

Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa, both ranked middleweight fighters, are set to go head-to-head in a five-round co-main event.

The fight card also features matchups between Park Hyun-sung and André Lima, as well as Su Mudaerji facing off against Joshua Van.

In the heavyweight division, Jailton Almeida and Alexander Romanov will clash, while Roman Kopylov takes on César Almeida in a middleweight bout.

UFC 302 is gearing up to deliver an action-packed evening of fights, with title implications and high-stakes showdowns spanning multiple weight classes.

Fans can anticipate a show as Makhachev and Poirier compete for supremacy alongside other top contenders showcasing their talents inside the Octagon.

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