UFC 302 brings a fantastic card, with two bouts standing above the others.
The UFC lightweight title is again up for grabs as the reigning champion, Islam Makhachev, steps into the octagon in Newark to defend his belt against, we can say, legendary Dustin Poirier.
Islam is on fire, having just one loss in his career and looking like the most dominant fighter in the UFC right now. Poirier has one last opportunity to win the belt in the UFC because he isn’t going to get any younger, and at 35 years old, the Diamond is nearing the end of his career.
Meanwhile, Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa guarantee a good battle, some crazy behavior, and lots of high-light-reel situations.
Here is the preview, and here are the odds for the UFC 302.
Islam Makhachev VS Dustin Poirier Preview
Makhachev boasts an impressive record of 25 victories and only one failure. Widely regarded as the most dominant wrestler not only in the lightweight division but arguably the entire UFC, Makhachev’s relentless ground game, and astonishing endurance often leave his opponents gasping for breath.
His title came with a win over Charles Oliveira, and after that, the Russian had two more defenses, both against one of the all-time greats in the UFC, Alexander Volkanovski, who decided to go up one division and attack the belt in the lightweight. The first meeting was close, with Islam winning via decision, while the second ended with him knocking out Volk.
Out of his 25 victories, 11 have come via submission, five through knockout, and nine by decision, showcasing his versatility and prowess in various aspects of the sport.
Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier is one of the legendary figures in the UFC. We simply don’t know anyone who doesn’t respect the guy from the South. That’s why each of his fights is a spectacle, with the media and public attention going through the roof.
Although a recent setback against Justin Gaethje marred his record, Poirier recovered well, delivering a knockout victory over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299. With 30 wins, eight losses, and one no-contest, Poirier’s resume remains one of the most impressive in the division.
A black belt in jiu-jitsu, Poirier’s once-dominant ground game has waned with time, yet he remains a formidable force on his feet. Known for his devastating punches, Poirier’s big edge is his weight because he regenerates very fast following the weigh-in, thus using his mass to inflict dangerous hits.
While Makhachev’s cardio outshines Poirier’s, the pivotal question is whether Poirier can land an early blow potent enough to rattle the champion. Nevertheless, this scenario seems improbable given Makhachev’s discipline and awareness of the potential dangers. That’s why we believe in his victory.
Sean Strickland VS Paulo Costa Preview
The former UFC middleweight champ, Strickland, gets back into the octagon following his loss to Dricus Du Plessis, who stripped him of the belt. The Tarzan wants a quick rematch, but in order to get that, a win here is a must.
A dominant boxer with extremely high output, Strickland knows what it takes to beat a dangerous fighter like Costa. His cardio is excellent, and also, we can say that his technique is at the elite level. Also, Strickland’s strength is his mentality, because he knows how to battle adversities.
Costa is a huge enigma because he hasn’t stepped into the octagon much recently. Four battles in the same number of years—that’s pretty low for a fighter of his caliber. However, the Brazilian creates hype and is always interesting for the fans, which is why the UFC wanted him in this one.
There isn’t a stronger puncher in the division, and his hits are devastating. However, his cardio is questionable due to his muscles and work ethic. The last few times we saw Costa, he still seemed raw, which is why he hasn’t won the title until now.
The last few lines pretty much explained why we are taking Strickland here. Overall, he looks more stable, and that’s why we picked the former champ over the former challenger.
