Winners And Losers From Makhachev Vs. Poirier Card

Islam Makhachev separated himself from former UFC champions Jon Jones, Demetrious Johnson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Max Holloway when he received his 14th straight battle underneath the UFC banner, submitting Dustin Poirier within the fifth spherical of their UFC 302 principal occasion. Makhachev, who retained his UFC light-weight title with the stoppage victory, can now set his sights on the one two fighters who’ve longer successful streaks than his, ex-welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (15) and former middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva (16).

As anticipated, Makhachev used his wrestling, floor management, and submission expertise to safe a D’arce choke on Poirier within the closing stanza. Earlier than dealing with Makhachev, Poirier did his greatest to shore up his takedown protection in battle camp, however dealing with a lifelong grappler in a title battle was too large of an ask for Poirier. With the loss on Saturday, Poirier joins the ranks of UFC fighters who’ve fallen brief in three title fights.

Within the night’s co-main occasion, ex-UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland bounced again from his title-losing determination matchup in opposition to Dricus du Plessis to select up a cut up determination win over ex-title challenger Paulo Costa. The win will maintain Strickland within the No. 1 spot within the middleweight rankings.

General, UFC 302 was one of many weaker pay-per-view occasions of the yr for the UFC. Nonetheless, Makhachev’s efficiency, together with Kevin Holland’s spectacular submission earlier on the primary card, helped fulfill the followers on the lookout for one thing particular from the combatants on the cardboard.

Under we have a look at the winners and losers from UFC 302, together with the outcomes and fight-night bonus winners.

UFC 302 passed off at Prudential Heart in Newark, New Jersey. The principle card streamed on ESPN+ PPV following prelims on ESPN2 and early prelims on ESPN+.

UFC 302 Winners

Islam Makhachev: Islam Makhachev placed on a wonderful efficiency at UFC 302. Identified for his grappling and floor sport, Makhachev excelled in these departments, however he didn’t shrink back from hanging with Dustin Poirier, who is thought for his hanging expertise.

Though there have been just a few tense moments in the course of the battle, Makhachev persevered, choosing up a late submission win to defend his UFC light-weight title.

Sean Strickland: Sean Strickland did his factor in opposition to Paulo Costa, strolling ahead and pressuring all through the 25-minute contest. It was not an thrilling win or one which might be spoken about in glowing phrases, nevertheless it was a win, and Strickland was the No. 1 ranked middleweight heading into UFC 302, a spot he’ll maintain onto subsequent week.

Kevin Holland: Kevin Holland has a fame as a fighter with extra mouth than expertise. Whereas a few of that rep is deserved, Holland is a high-level fighter with expertise in every single place. He confirmed that on Saturday after getting tagged by a left by Michal Oleksiejczuk, recovering from that blow to lock up a battle ending armbar on this middleweight contest.

As Holland stated after the battle, “I believe I’m the very best gatekeeper you guys have ever seen.”

Niko Worth: Niko Worth, who obtained a full camp for UFC 302, used his cardio to select up a win over Alex Morono, who was a late substitute opponent. Worth’s tempo was simply an excessive amount of for a sapped Morono. This was not an incredible efficiency from Worth, however he did sufficient to win, ending his two-fight dropping skid.

Randy Brown: Randy Brown did an incredible job within the first spherical of his welterweight scrap in opposition to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. He confirmed easy motion, admiral footwork, and the power to make use of his size and attain to attain together with his hanging. He additionally confirmed the power to land some highly effective knees when he discovered the time and area. When issues didn’t go his method within the second spherical, Brown didn’t quit, reversing Dos Santos close to the tip of the stanza after struggling together with his opponent’s grappling.

Brown is now on a three-fight successful streak and can doubtless get a shot at a ranked opponent the following time he steps into the Octagon.

Jailton Almeida: Jailton Almeida made a foul determination in his final battle, hanging onto a leg when he shouldn’t have and getting knocked out by Curtis Blaydes. He wanted a redemptive efficiency to bounce again from that loss.

I don’t know if he obtained that on Saturday, however he did his factor, utilizing his wrestling and submission expertise to select up a fast first-round submission win over a really overmatched Alexander Romanov.

Grant Dawson: Grant Dawson had a tough go of issues within the first spherical of his battle in opposition to Joe Solecki, discovering himself in a choke try and bloodied by an elbow. Nevertheless, Dawson spent the following 10 minutes of the scrap in a high place, ringing up floor strikes and incomes a call win. It wasn’t the prettiest victory, however Dawson did what he wanted to do to select up the win.

Jake Matthews: Jake Matthews used energy, aggression and floor management to select up a call win over Philip Rowe at UFC 302. Rowe tried to make use of his size to maintain Matthews at bay, however Matthews simply bullied his method inside and as soon as there he landed highly effective strikes to select up the choice win. With the victory, Matthews has alternated wins and losses over his previous seven fights.

Bassil Hafez: Bassil Hafez’s effort at UFC 302 was a combined bag. He did an okay job with throwing with energy, however he didn’t do loads to arrange his hanging as soon as the battle moved into the second spherical.

Nevertheless, Hafez landed with extra energy and frequency, giving him the unanimous determination nod.

Hafez must work on his cardio, setups, and protection, however he might be a enjoyable fighter to look at within the UFC welterweight division.

Andre Lima: Andre Lima missed weight by 5 kilos, which was not a good way to start out his UFC 302 curtain jerkeragainst late substitute opponent Mitch Raposo.

Lima seemed superb in opposition to his overmatched foe. He was calm and measured and used his leg kicks to his benefit. He had no downside choosing up what ought to have been a transparent unanimous determination win.

The factor to look at with Lima is that if he could make weight. He did so for his March UFC debut, however weighing in at 130 for a 125-pound scrap can’t occur greater than as soon as.

UFC 302 Losers

Dustin Poirier: Dustin Poirier put forth a valiant effort in his third try and win the undisputed UFC light-weight title, however like his first two tries at gaining the belt, Poirier fell brief, as soon as once more dropping through submission. Poirier defended a handful of takedown makes an attempt from Islam Makhachev, however not sufficient. The grappling expertise of the champ stored Poirier from choosing up the win, however he mustn’t cling his head following UFC 302, he misplaced to an incredible champion in Makhachev.

Paulo Costa: Paulo Costa fought virtually all 5 rounds in opposition to Sean Strickland backing up, regardless of Strickland not having a lot energy. Had he planted his toes and stood in entrance of Strickland, not less than early, he may need had an opportunity to win the battle, particularly if he had landed only a handful of highly effective strikes.

Michal Oleksiejczuk: Michal Oleksiejczuk fought to his strengths from the beginning, trying to shut distance and land highly effective strikes. Nevertheless, he was not prepared for the submission sport of his opponent, Kevin Holland, who locked in a nasty armbar to finish the battle.

Alex Morono: Alex Morono ran out of fuel in opposition to Niko Worth. His cardio, which failed him within the second spherical, left him wanting gradual and reluctant to interact.

Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos: Exterior of the second spherical, the place he locked up a choke try, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos struggled in opposition to Randy Brown. He couldn’t shut vary, and he couldn’t cope with the size of his foe. The loss ended a three-fight unbeaten streak for Dos Santos.

Joe Solecki: Joe Solecki tried to make use of his grappling expertise to negate Grant Dawson’s hanging. Exterior of getting some success within the first spherical, he failed.

Philip Rowe: Philip Rowe used his size nicely in opposition to Jake Matthews. He used a quick jab to bloody Matthews early within the first spherical, however he couldn’t push back the aggression of his opponent. With the choice loss, Rowe is on the primary dropping skid of his MMA profession since he went 0-2 in his first two professional fights.

Mickey Gall: Mickey Gall landed a good quantity of strikes in opposition to Bassil Hafez, however he didn’t have the facility behind his punches to sway the judges. Gall did a good job of preventing behind his jab, however his lack of energy prevented him from choosing up the factors he wanted in opposition to the defensively poor Hafez.

With the loss, Gall, who had not competed since 2022, dropped to 0-3 in his previous three outings. His most up-to-date victory got here in 2021.

Mitch Raposo: Mitch Raposo was overmatched in opposition to Andre Lima. He seemed reluctant to interact, and when he did, Raposo threw his strikes as single blows as an alternative of in mixtures.

This was Raposo’s UFC debut and it got here on brief discover, so it is likely to be the very best battle to guage what the longer term holds for him. Nevertheless, he wants to indicate loads of enchancment in his subsequent outing.

Referees: The referees at UFC 302 allowed a number of fouls to go unpunished, together with a headbutt within the second battle of the evening. This is among the largest failings of MMA officers. They should implement the principles.

UFC Commentators: It’s irritating to listen to veteran UFC staff like Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier get the scoring standards improper extra typically than they get it proper. I might implore followers who’re focused on scoring fights to learn the factors as it’s written and ignore a lot of the discuss of the likes of Rogan and Cormier, particularly on the subject of floor management and having problem awarding a spherical to a fighter who’s in backside place.

UFC 302 Combat Card Outcomes

UFC 302 Pay-Per-View card

Islam Makhachev defeats Dustin Poirier through submission at 2:42 of Spherical 5 (through D’arce choke)

Sean Strickland defeats Paulo Costa through cut up determination (46-49, 50-45, 49-46)

Kevin Holland defeats Michal Oleksiejczuk through submission at 1:34 of Spherical 1 (armbar)

Niko Worth defeats Alex Morono through unanimous determination (29-28 x 3)

Randy Brown defeats Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos through unanimous determination (29-28 x 3)

UFC 302 Preliminary Card

Roman Kopylov defeats Cesar Almeida through cut up determination (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

Jailton Almeida defeats Alexander Romanov through submission at 2:27 of Spherical 1 (rear-naked choke)

Grant Dawson defeats Joe Solecki through unanimous determination (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Jake Matthews defeats Philip Rowe through unanimous determination (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

UFC 302 Early Preliminary Card

Bassil Hafez defeats Mickey Gall through unanimous determination (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Ailn Perez defeats Joselyne Edwards through unanimous determination (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Andre Lima defeats Mitch Raposo through cut up determination (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

UFC 302 Combat Evening Bonuses

Combat of the Evening: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier

Efficiency of the Evening: Islam Makhachev

Efficiency of the Evening: Kevin Holland

Associated Tales

UFC 303 PPV Card Set For Conor McGregor Vs. Michael Chandler Card

UFC 302: Can Makhachev Accomplish What Solely 2 Different UFC Fighters Have?

UFC 302: Makhachev Vs. Poirier – Odds, Traces, Prop Bets And Picks

Dana White – UFC 303: McGregor Vs. Chandler Will Prime $20 Million Gate

UFC 303: Conor McGregor Opens As Betting Favourite Vs. Michael Chandler

UFC 303: Conor McGregor Vs Michael Chandler Ticket Costs Set