Report – UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier

Everyone knew Islam Makhachev; the Dagestan wrestling machine that takes his opponent down and grounds them out just as his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov had done before him. And everybody knows the dirt tough Dustin Poirier; the kid from Lafayette, Louisiana who "shouldn't" be there and fights with the grit and determination of the classic American underdog.

In a matchup where the result seemed like a for-gone conclusion before it happened, the contest between defending champion Islam Makhachev and former interim champion Dustin Poirier delivered a fight that defied expectations, despite ending where many smart MMA fans thought they knew where it was going.

Within the first minute of action, Makhachev had Poirier on his back and kept him on the ground for the rest of the round. Although Poirier showed signs of possible takedown defense in the moments prior, once Makhachev had his hooks in it looked like it could be a repeat of Poirier's one-sided loss to Nurmagomedov in 2019. Clearly, it was going to be a long night for Poirier.

The second round seemed like it wasn't going to be much different from the first when Makhachev shot for another takedown thirty seconds into the next round, but Poirier managed to squirm out of the iron grip of Makhachev, suggesting his presence in the bout wouldn't be so rudimentary.

If it was going to be a repeat, Poirier didn't get the script. Poirier remained defiant on his feet in a striking battle with Makhachev, who more than held his own marginally outstruck Poirier 26-24 in significant strikes during the round. But Makhachev did get the takedown with a minute remaining in the second and he found it again in the opening of the third.

Their back and forth between takedown to takedown defense to striking contest continued through rounds three and four as each man sustained significant damage in their pursuit of walking away with gold.

In the fifth Poirier became verbally belligerent to his opponent, speaking abrasively to Makhachev during their intermittent skirmishes. This rhetoric irreverence would be the pride before the fall as Makhachev claimed his fifth takedown and delivered Poirier his third loss by submission in a title fight.

The fight saved an otherwise disappointing card and dutifully received Fight of the Night plaudits from UFC president Dana White and further established Islam Makhachev as the superior fighter with more takedowns (5-0), more strikes (147-104), and greater strike accuracy (56%-40%).

Afterward, Poirier suggested that the fight could be his last, pondering, "what am I fighting for?" As a fan, there is truly nothing left for Poirier to prove, beyond what he desires.

Makhachev may have cemented his place as the undisputed champion at 155lbs, but Poirier cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats of the octagon.