Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier set for UFC 302 main event

Islam Makhachev has his next assignment, with the undisputed UFC lightweight champion set to face former interim champion Dustin Poirier later this year.

Heading into UFC 300, it appeared there were a number of different options in play for his next title defence, with Poirier, Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira all in the mix.

However, Gaethje was outclassed, then knocked out, by Max Holloway in their show-stealing BMF title fight, while Oliveira lost a split decision to another potential Makhachev opponent, Arman Tsarukyan, who pushed his own claims for a shot at the Russian.

But, by the end of fight night in Las Vegas, the decision had already been made, with UFC CEO Dana White confirming that Makhachev would face Poirier in the main event of UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey, on June 1.

Makhachev currently sits at the top of the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, thanks to his prodigious win streak at 155 pounds.

The Dagestani champion is riding a 13-fight win streak, and captured the UFC lightweight crown with a second-round arm-triangle choke victory over Oliveira at UFC 280 in October 2022.

His only two defences since have come against then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, who stepped up to challenge Makhachev for two-division glory.

The Australian pushed Makhachev to the limit, but was edged out on the scorecards. But an ill-advised decision to follow a featherweight title defence with a second shot at Makhachev just three months later proved disastrous, with Makhachev knocking out the Aussie in brutal fashion at UFC 294.

Now, with Makhachev facing the call to put his belt on the line against legitimate 155-pounders, he’ll face Poirier, recently bounced back from his BMF title challenge defeat to Gaethje with a second-round knockout of surging French contender Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299.

After that win, Poirier called for a shot at the title, and his request has been granted, with “The Diamond” set to make his third attempt at the undisputed lightweight belt on June 1.

UFC 302: Confirmed fights

• Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier – for lightweight title
• Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa
• Niko Price vs. Jeremiah Wells
• Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez
• Mickey Gall vs. Bassil Hafez
• Phil Rowe vs. Jake Matthews
• Grant Dawson vs. Joe Solecki
• Ailin Perez vs. Joselyne Edwards