UFC 302, held at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on June 3, 2024, will feature a highly anticipated lightweight title bout between current champion Islam Makhachev and challenger Dustin Poirier. Both fighters are known for their impressive records and unique fighting styles.
Islam Makhachev (25-1) is the current UFC lightweight champion, having made his third title defense in October 2023 against Alexander Volkanovski. He defeated Volkanovski by knockout and currently holds a winning streak of 10 fights. Makhachev is a southpaw with excellent risk management skills and an impressive record of takedowns, averaging 3.17 per 15 minutes with strong takedown defense at 90%. He hails from Russia and trains at Eagles MMA in Dubai.
Dustin Poirier (30-8; 1 NC), a former interim UFC lightweight champion, is coming off a knockout win over Benoit Saint-Denis less than three months ago. He has shown weakness in grappling exchanges but is known for his striking abilities as a boxer. Poirier, who is from the United States and trains at American Top Team in Florida, has been backed by one-sided action at +325 despite being the underdog with 92% of the total bets and 76% of the money.
The two fighters will meet in a highly anticipated matchup that is expected to be a close contest. Makhachev enters as the favorite, but Poirier's determination and striking abilities make him a formidable opponent. The fight will be broadcasted live on ESPN+ and is not to be missed for any MMA fan.
Other notable fights on the UFC 302 card include Sean Strickland (-210) vs. Paulo Costa (+175), Michal Oleksiejczuk (+165) vs. Kevin Holland (-200), and Alexandr Romanov (+225) vs. Jailton Almeida (-285).