How did Makhachev defeat Poirier at UFC302?
The Russian fighter, trained by the great Khabib, defeated Dustin Poirier with a D’arce choke in the fifth round after a grueling, striking battle.
The fight ended bitterly for Dustin Poirier, despite his wish of a career dream ending. In a thrilling boxing match, Poirier caused a cut on Islam Makhachev’s forehead. Still, the Russian retained his lightweight belt by submitting Poirier with a D’arce choke in the fifth round of the main event at UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey. Poirier hinted that this fight might be his last, stating, “I have to look, this may be the last fight.” He mentioned that he needs to consider his decision before making it final.
Makhachev quickly took control of the match. He landed some punches early and brought the fight to the ground by catching Poirier’s leg when he attempted a kick. The Dagestani fighter grabbed his back and put his legs over Poirier’s abdomen, looking to secure a submission. He tried to subdue him and landed several punches on his face from his advantageous position. The Russian fighter’s dominance was absolute. Things changed in the second round as he attempted more takedowns, but the American managed to escape several of his attempts. Poirier remained cautious, maintaining a solid defense against Makhachev’s efforts to take the fight to the ground. They engaged in the clinch, and the crowd erupted when they saw Poirier’s powerful punches.
The crowd was on their feet, and the fighters’ corners were going wild for good reason. The Dagestani fighter landed a knee and brought the fight to the ground, attempting to take Poirier’s back. He locked in a triangle choke, causing the American, who was already bleeding from the nose, to struggle. Despite this, Poirier resisted the submission and eventually escaped. Poirier wanted to continue the fight standing, and Makhachev obliged, evading his strikes. By the fourth round, the fight was intense. The back-and-forth continued, and the Russian landed two left hands, pinning Poirier against the fence but unable to take his back. Poirier responded with an elbow in the clinch, opening a cut on Makhachev’s forehead and causing blood to flow down the champion’s face. “Give it your all in this round,” Poirier’s corner urged. And he did. He went for the knockout, surviving knockdowns and landing some dangerous combinations. The Dagestani grabbed his ankle to take him to the ground, where he secured a d’Arce choke, ending Poirier’s dream and leaving him unconscious.
Makhachev has achieved a record of 14 consecutive victories and is now seeking greater challenges. He expressed his desire to compete for a second championship, stating that he wanted something new and that it was his dream. The Russian fighter aims to move into the welterweight division. Following his fight with Poirier, he embraced his opponent and thanked him, acknowledging Poirier as a warrior.
Strickland dominates without shine
The co-main event positioned Sean Strickland for another shot at the title. The American secured a split decision victory (46-49, 50-45, 49-46) over Paulo Costa in a fight that he completely dominated. Strickland controlled the distance and pace of the fight, wearing down the Brazilian. He expressed his desire to challenge Dricus du Plessis for the title, stating, “I want to fight for the title. I always fight whoever is offered. Give me the title fight.”
Strickland came out ready to fight. The American consistently moved forward, threatening with kicks and forcing Costa to move around the cage. The Brazilian couldn’t land any significant strikes. When he attempted a kick, the former champion grabbed his leg and brought him to the ground, landing two hard punches. Costa was more active in the second round, but the American continued to dictate the match’s pace. He advanced and prevented the Brazilian from finding an opening to attack. They exchanged punches in the center of the octagon, but Strickland remained in control.
The former middleweight champion showed great determination throughout the fight. He landed a powerful combination, culminating in a right hand that Costa felt. He maintained control of the match and kept up the pressure with relentless attacks. Despite Costa’s attempts to fight back with kicks, Strickland’s solid defense prevented significant damage. As a result, the audience’s initial excitement waned. Strickland continued to press forward, finishing with an intense assault against the fence. After the fight, he expressed regret that it wasn’t more entertaining, attributing the lackluster nature of the match to his opponent’s failure to deliver on his promise to knock him out. He hoped for a more engaging battle in the future, emphasizing his respect for his opponent but urging him to come prepared to fight.