On June 1, 2024, the world witnessed a breathtaking encounter at UFC 302 between the Lightweight Division champion Islam Makhachev and one of the UFC’s finest strikers, 35-year-old Dustin Poirier, known as “The Diamond.” At 10 p.m. ET (Eastern Time), the bell rang at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, USA, with an attendance of 17,834 people, signalling the start of this exhilarating showdown.
Ahead of the match, Russian fighter Islam Makhachev boasted a record of 25 victories, 5 technical knockouts, 12 submissions, and 1 loss, making him the undisputed favourite, according to the press. On the other hand, American fighter Poirier entered the arena with a record of 30 wins and 8 losses, with his most recent loss dating back to UFC 291 against Justin Gaethje.
This time, Dustin Poirier stated that he wasn’t just fighting for a belt; he wanted to win this fight to cap off his career on a high note. For this reason, two special and dear people to him were present in the arena: his wife and his little daughter, who watched her father fight live for the first time.
Embed from Getty ImagesMany likened the match between the Russians and Americans to the famous showdown from an iconic ’80s movie between an underdog American named Rocky Balboa and the invincible Russian powerhouse Ivan Drago.
History Between The Fighters
- Islam Makhachev, mentored by the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, has long been regarded as a future champion.
What plays to this fighter’s advantage is his training. Like many fighters from the Dagestan region, where both MakhaMakhachevcev and Khabib hail from, they learn a specific style of combat from the start, focusing heavily on Sambo, Wrestling, Judo, and Boxing before transitioning to mixed martial arts (MMA). They learn grappling techniques and ground control, which is why many of MakhacMakhachevev’s career victories have come via submission. - On the other side of the ring, veteran Dustin Poirier relies primarily on his power and striking ability. With a background as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Poirier is remembered for many memorable UFC encounters, such as his victory over Max Holloway at UFC 236, which he won by decision after five intense rounds, his submission win against Michael Chandler in 2022, two minutes before the end of the third round, and above all, his two victories against the notorious Conor McGregor, both occurring in 2021.
Coaches And Training Camp
Javier Mendez, the Mexican coach and founder of the American Kickboxing Academy, oversaw Makhachev’s training camp. The focus was improving Islam’s striking techniques and integrating them with his impeccable grappling.
Embed from Getty ImagesDuring training, Islam was naturally accompanied by Khabib and another legend of the sport, Daniel Cormier.
In comparison, Poirier was coached by Mike Brown at American Top Team, focusing more on preventing the Russian’s grappling techniques and takedowns. All while strengthening his striking and trying to identify other weaknesses in Makhachev.
The Conference Showdown
We rarely see as much mutual respect as Islam and Poirier displayed during the conference. Both fighters maintained a calm tone, respecting each other but never neglecting their competitiveness. Islam, very confident after months of training, remained composed, while Poirier, usually an eloquent speaker, expressed his acceptance of this challenge as a way to solidify his legacy.
As it was a lightweight category match, both fighters had to weigh 155 lbs (70kg).
The Fight
At the start of the first round, both began to study each other intensely in the centre of the ring. Still, as soon as he saw the opportunity, Islam showcased his superior grappling technique to pressure the American. Naturally, Poirier didn’t yield and began to strike Makhachev with significant combinations.
During the first round, Makhachev managed to execute a takedown and get on top of Poirier, but the latter, having trained for these situations in the training camp, defended himself. The first round ended with Makhachev in control on the ground, making it clear to his opponent that it would be a very tough fight for him. Following his coach’s advice in the second round, Poirier tried his best to keep the fight standing, his strong point, using his footwork to keep a distance from Islam.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, this didn’t work throughout the round because Makhachev’s relentless pressure led to a second takedown against Dustin. The Russian Sambo experience was evident as he smoothly transitioned from one position to another, seriously endangering Poirier.
The third round was smooth sailing for Makhachev; his game plan had thoroughly tested the American, who, despite his resistance, struggled to find a way to jeopardize Islam’s grappling. The pivotal moment came when Makhachev changed position and moved to Poirier’s back, applying a Rear-Naked chokehold, ensuring the American’s submission, and so it was.
Post Fight
During interviews, Makhachev expressed gratitude towards his team for having fought against a sports legend. He also stated that he now desires to become the undisputed lightweight champion. Dustin Poirier, on his part, while being interviewed by Joe Rogan in the ring, said, “I know I could compete with the best of these guys; it’s just like…if I do fight again, what am I fighting for? Just to fight? I’ve done that 50 times, I got a little girl I love, and I got to see, I think this could be it!”