Islam Makhachev will defend his lightweight championship against third title challenger Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302 on Saturday, June 1 in Newark, New Jersey. In the co-main event, former middleweight champion Sean Strickland will look to get back into the title race against fellow contender Paulo Costa.
Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale and Dre Waters will provide game-by-game updates and analysis, key moments, along with the sights and sounds from the ground in Newark. Below are all 12 confirmed fights for UFC 302, along with key storylines, the latest rumors, how to watch the event and more.
How to watch the fights
UFC 302 fight card
ESPN+PPV, 10 pm eastern time
Lightweight Championship: Islam Makhachev (c) vs. Dustin Poirier
Middleweight: Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa
Middleweight: Kevin Holland vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Welterweight: Niko Price vs. Alex Morono
Welterweight: Randy Brown vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
ESPN2/ESPN+, 8 p.m.
Middleweight: César Almeida vs. Roman Kopylov
Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida vs. Alexandr Romanov
Lightweight: Grant Dawson vs. Joe Solecki
Welterweight: Phil Rowe vs. Jake Matthews
ESPN+, 6:30 pm
Welterweight: Mickey Gall vs. Bassil Hafez
Women's Bantamweight: Ailin Pérez vs. Joselyne Edwards
Men's Flyweight: Mitch Raposo vs. Andre Lima
(c) = defending champion
Interview: Dustin Poirier on UFC 302, legacy and more
'Destiny makes no mistakes': Dustin Poirier is about to end his UFC story
“I think I'm knocking on the door,” Poirier told ESPN of his continued aspiration to be lightweight champion. “If I win this undisputed belt on June 1, you'll be able to compare my resume to any other 155-pound fighter in the world. I think I'm close to being the best.”
That resume includes nearly everything Poirier set out to accomplish nearly 20 years ago. Poirier is the only person to beat Conor McGregor twice and has had a career filled with fights against former world champions and fighters who have routinely hovered near the top of the subjective pound-for-pound list: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, Eddie Alvarez, Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Anthony Pettis and others. Some are still fighting while others are no longer there. But Poirier is still standing, still fighting, and still one of the most beloved figures in all of MMA.
“I've checked every box except the one that says 'undisputed champion,'” Poirier said. “That's a box I want checked. All the other boxes were checked along the way to this goal. It's a byproduct of me trying to be the best in the world. I'm still chasing that.”
Capturing the title that has eluded him on his third attempt, inside an arena he resides on Lafayette Street with his wife and 7-year-old daughter nearby, would be a storybook ending for arguably the greatest mixed martial arts artist ever. He never won a championship. UFC Championship.
Read the history.
UFC 302 stories: Makhachev's next big test and the debut of the new glove
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Islam Makhachev silences crowd after first-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski
Islam Makhachev silences the crowd after knocking out Alexander Volkanovski in the first round.
A little over a month ago, fans witnessed one of the most dynamic fights in mixed martial arts history. That festive night was a tough act to follow, so it's fair to say the sport has been experiencing something of a UFC 300 hangover.
But this weekend brings a gentle antidote.
UFC 302, taking place Saturday in Newark, New Jersey, isn't as packed from top to bottom as April's landmark event, but the main attraction is as good as it gets. Pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev will defend his lightweight championship against a longtime luminary of the weight class, Dustin Poirier. It's a fight that doesn't need additional selling points, but it has one anyway: Poirier, at 35, will likely make his final bid for gold.
While UFC 302 doesn't feature wall-to-wall star power, there is intrigue throughout the fight lineup. Here are some stories we will see develop.
Read the history.
UFC Title Showdown Projections: Betting Experts Break Down Makhachev-Poirier and More
At UFC 302, Poirier will be the biggest loser on the card, and the numbers agree that he has an uphill battle. While Poirier wields strong, technical offensive punches, Makhachev counters with excellent defense and is capable of performing precise power punches, albeit at a much lower rate. Poirier averages three times Makhachev's attacking pace. Unfortunately for Poirier, he also gets his fair share of drinks in return. So he'll probably be the busier striker, but he's still vulnerable on counterattacks.
And that's only when the fight continues, as Makhachev will surely attempt plenty of takedowns. Poirier's takedown defense rates are average and he is too willing to defend off his back. Poirier needs a finish. Otherwise, he will likely spend long periods losing points on the mat. –Reed Kuhn
Read the history.
