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| Islam Makhachev to Defend UFC Lightweight Title Against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 |
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, widely regarded as the promotion's
top pound-for-pound fighter, is set to defend his belt against fan favorite Dustin
Poirier at UFC 302. The event will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark,
where Makhachev's mentor and former champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, will be
in his corner.
Poirier, known for his resilience and striking skills, is hoping that the third time will
be the charm in his quest for the lightweight title. He previously fought for the belt
twice, suffering submission losses by rear-naked choke to Khabib Nurmagomedov
in 2019 and Charles Oliveira in 2021. Despite these setbacks, Poirier remains a top
contender in the division. Since his most recent title shot, he has secured a
notable victory over Michael Chandler, experienced a loss to Justin Gaethje in a
"BMF" fight, and pulled off an upset against rising star Benoit Saint Denis to stay
among the elite ranks.
Makhachev has demonstrated his dominance in the lightweight division, though
his only two title defenses have come against featherweight champion Alexander
Volkanovski. Makhachev claimed the vacant lightweight title by defeating Oliveira
at UFC 280. He was scheduled to face Oliveira again at UFC 294, but an injury
forced the Brazilian to withdraw. Volkanovski stepped in on short notice,
ultimately paying the price against the formidable Makhachev.
Heading into UFC 302, Makhachev is the strong favorite to retain his title. However,
Poirier has proven time and again that he can never be counted out, especially in a
high-stakes title fight.
For fans eager to catch the action, all the latest results and highlights throughout
the entire card will be available on Yahoo Sports with their live blog coverage.
