June 02, (THEWILL) – Islam Makhachev successfully defended his UFC lightweight championship by submitting Dustin Poirier in the fifth round of their main event clash at UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey, on Sunday. The Russian champion entered a d’arce choke midway through the final round, forcing Poirier to tap out after a hard-fought battle.
The bout was a thrilling back-and-forth affair, with both fighters exhibiting their striking abilities throughout the early rounds. However, Makhachev’s superior grappling and wrestling skills ultimately proved decisive, as he repeatedly took Poirier to the mat and maintained control until gaining the fight-ending submission.
In his post-fight interview, Makhachev was clear about his respect for Poirier’s legacy but hinted at a potential move to the light heavyweight division, stating: “When you [just] defend your belt, it’s not the same. I need a new belt.” Poirier, on the other hand, suggested that this could be the end of his illustrious career after failing to capture the undisputed lightweight title for the third time.
The co-main event saw former middleweight champion Sean Strickland earn a split decision victory over Paulo Costa in a hard-fought five-round battle. Strickland’s efficient striking and movement proved superior, earning him the nod on the judges’ scorecards with scores of 46-49, 50-45, and 49-46.
The remaining bouts on the main card delivered exciting finishes and performances. Kevin Holland submitted Michael Oleksiejczuk in the first round of their middleweight contest, while Niko Price and Randy Brown earned unanimous decision victories over Alex Morono and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, respectively, in welterweight clashes
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
