Future UFC Hall of Famer Dustin Poirier was receiving a shot of a lifetime this past weekend. He was headlining UFC 302 in a title fight against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who is in the running as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.
On Saturday night in the main event, they put on a show that certainly lived up to the hype. Knowing this could be his last chance to win UFC gold, Dustin Poirier wasn’t going to make it easy on Islam Makhachev.
A pro-Poirier crowd was giving him that extra energy and burst, putting on a wonderful performance. He was constantly fighting off takedowns from the talented champion, scrambling successfully to avoid being put in precarious positions.
Alas, Islam Makhachev’s incredible offense overcame Dustin Poirier’s defense in the fifth round. With an incredibly timed ankle pick, Makhachev was in his comfort zone on the ground and got himself into position to lock in a d’arce choke.
With 2:42 remaining in the fifth and final round, Dustin Poirier tapped out. Upon replay, and on a hot mic before the official announcement, Poirier admits that he went out for a second, as you can see his body go limp after the chokehold was released.
“He did very good,” an exhausted Makhachev said. “He defended my takedown and gave me a hard time.”
The UFC 302 main event was everything fight fans wanted. Two all-time greats gave it everything they had in the octagon, putting on a wonderful bout after some underwhelming performances earlier in the card left the fans raining down boos at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
After the fight, Dustin Poirier hinted that this could be the last time we see him in the Octagon competing.
“I know I can compete with the rest of these guys, but if I do, am I fighting just to fight?” said Poirier, 35, a Louisiana native. “I got a little girl and a family at home, but I got to see [what’s next]. This could be it.”
Poirier, regarded by many as the best fighter to never hold a title, showed championship spirit and heart throughout the fight. He survived an early takedown in Round 1 despite Makhachev doing everything he could to find a submission.
On the feet, Poirier was in his wheelhouse. He landed some powerful blows, which Makhachev admitted after the fight in an exchange between the two that he had never felt before in a fight.
If this was indeed the final time we see Dustin Poirier in the octagon, he went out with a strong performance. As for Islam Makhachev, he has big plans. His goal is to fight for multiple championships after a third successful defense of the lightweight title.
“I want to fight for a second belt,” said Makhachev, 32. “When you defend the belt, it’s not the same. I need a new one. This is my dream.”
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