Russia's Islam Makhachev (top) fights Dustin Poirier in the first round of their lightweight title bout at UFC 302 mixed martial arts in Newark, New Jersey, early Sunday, June 2, 2024. Makhachev was victorious. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Brian Mahoney (AP Sports Writer)
NEWARK, N.J. — Islam Makhachev had a hopeless opponent in front of him and a sold-out crowd attacking him.
None of them could stop him. Nothing could stop him for long.
Makhachev defeated Dustin Poirier by submission on Saturday night at UFC 302 to defend his lightweight title and extend his winning streak to 14 fights, the third-longest in UFC history.
Makhachev overcame one of boxing's veteran fighters and a crowd that included his early nemesis, former President Donald Trump, to improve to 26-1 and said after the fight he might try again at a higher weight class.
“This is my dream,” Makhachev said.
There certainly isn't much left for the Russian 155-pound fighter, who defended his title for the third time and proved once again why he is rated the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.
Poirier (30-9), who is coming off three attempts at an undefeated title chase with submission losses, is now 35 and considering retirement.
“We'll have to see. I think this might be my last time,” he said after the game.
Poirier fought back after Makhachev dominated the first round and then drew blood from the champion's face, but Makhachev took Poirier down midway through the fifth round, storming in quickly and Poirier unable to escape the chokehold.
“It was an incredible fight. Both fighters gave it their all,” UFC president Dana White said.
While respecting his challenger's achievements, Makhachev noted this week that while Poirier has had good records against boxers, he has weaknesses against fighters with wrestling experience, something Makhachev cites as a strength.
The champion looked to be on his way to his 12th victory by submission in the first round, as he took Poirier down in the first minute and kept him pinned to the mat for the remainder of the round.
Fans cheered wildly when Poirier, the fourth-ranked lightweight, escaped several takedown attempts in the second round and cheered even louder when the horn sounded to end the round.
The two fighters traded blows in the third and fourth rounds, leaving both men covered in blood, but Makhachev needn't have feared any further punches.
“I'm happy to beat him, but he's still one of the best fighters in the world,” Makhachev said of Poirier.
White has said he wants to move up to 170 pounds and is more interested in a bout with the number one ranked lightweight in Russia, Arman Tsarukyan, but Makhachev seems keen to challenge for another belt.
“If I want to build a legend, I have to win a second belt,” he said.
Poirier, a popular veteran from Louisiana who ranks in the top five in UFC all-time wins, knockouts and finishes, faced arguably the best fighter today. He'd been choked out by Charles Oliveira and Khabib Nurmagomedov in his other title fights, and White said that gave Poirier some knowledge he could use in this bout, but not enough to win.
He sometimes spoke as if retirement was a plan, but he certainly didn't seem sure.
“I still feel like I want to be world champion,” he said.
In the semi-main event, former middleweight champion Sean Strickland was victorious again with a split decision victory over Paulo Costa. Strickland appeared to be in control of a boring bout with the Brazilian, who spent most of the time avoiding attacks.
Strickland (29-6), who lost the title in his last bout, a split decision loss to Dorricus du Plessis in January, said after the fight he would like to give it another shot.
“I want to fight for the belt,” he said.
Strickland spent most of the first round using short kicks to keep his distance and threw few punches with UFC's newly designed gloves, designed primarily to prevent eye pokes, which he criticized until he knocked down Costa (14-4) with a right hand in the final minute of the round.
He went for the finish in the final minutes of the fifth round, taking Costa down with a kick and chasing him down before time expired.
Trump entered to thunderous applause just as the preliminary portion of the event was wrapping up. Days after becoming the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony in New York state, he shook hands with announcers, pumped his fist at cheering supporters and sat with White to watch the speech.
