Islam Makhachev Defends Title with Fifth-Round Submission Against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302
Makhachev Retains Title in Thrilling Defense
In perhaps the most dangerous bout of his reign as UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev lived up to his title as the promotion's top pound-for-pound fighter. The Russian defeated UFC veteran Dustin Poirier with a fifth-round submission to defend his belt in a fight that seemed to be trending against him in the later rounds.
Early Dominance and Mid-Fight Challenges
Makhachev spent much of the fight in control on the ground but faced significant resistance from Poirier. The first round saw Makhachev clock Poirier, take him down, and spend the next four minutes looking for a choke or arm triangle. Poirier fought off these attempts and began finding his footing in the second round. While it has proven to be nearly impossible to beat Makhachev on the ground, Poirier managed to fend him off and landed some big strikes to keep the fight fairly even.
Crowd Support and Poirier's Resilience
With the Prudential Center in Newark crowd firmly behind the American underdog, an upset seemed possible had Poirier won the fifth round. Despite a gnarly forehead cut and several stuffed takedown attempts, Makhachev displayed his resilience and skill.
The Decisive Fifth Round
In the fifth round, Makhachev snuffed out the threat with a D'Arce choke, soon being mobbed by his corner as Poirier lay on the floor, either unconscious or close to it. This decisive move ended the fight, solidifying Makhachev's position as the top lightweight.
Makhachev's Future Aspirations
Following the fight, Makhachev expressed his desire to compete for the UFC welterweight crown, currently held by Leon Edwards. Having now defended his belt three times, with previous victories against Alexander Volkanovski, Makhachev is looking for new challenges.
"It's my dream. I want to fight for the second belt. I want to feel that energy again, because when you defend your belt, it's not the same. I need a new one," Makhachev said.
Poirier's Uncertain Future
For Dustin Poirier, the 35-year-old indicated he was seriously considering retirement. This fight marked his third shot at the lightweight belt, with previous submission losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. Reflecting on his future, Poirier said, "If I do fight again, what am I fighting for? Just to fight? I've done that 50 times. I don't know. I've got a little girl I love, I gotta see. I think this could be it, honestly."
UFC 302 Card Recap
The UFC 302 card was a night full of action, particularly for fans who enjoy wins by decision, though some outcomes left the judges' decisions open to scrutiny.
