NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: (L-R) Opponents Islam Makhachev of Russia and Dustin Poirier face off … [+]
Zuffa LLC through Getty PhotosThe UFC is on the Prudential Middle in Newark, New Jersey, for tonight’s UFC 302 pay-per-view card. In the principle occasion, UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev appears to be like to defend his title in opposition to former interim champion Dustin Poirier. Within the night’s co-headlining contest, ex-UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland meets former title challenger Paulo Costa.
The principle card for UFC 302 streams on ESPN+ PPV following prelims on ESPN2 and early prelims on ESPN+.
Dustin Poirier has tried to win undisputed UFC light-weight gold on two earlier events. He failed in these efforts, shedding to Charles Oliveira and Khabib Nurmagomedov through submission. Islam Makhachev has two profitable UFC light-weight title defenses on his file. Each these wins got here in opposition to former UFC 145-pound champion Alexander Volkanovski. UFC 302 marks Makhachev’s first title protection in opposition to a “true” 155-pound challenger.
Makhachev holds the UFC file for longest energetic profitable streak at 13 fights. If he defeats Poirier, Makhachev joins Anderson Silva and Kamaru Usman as the one fighters to win 14 or extra fights in a row whereas competing for the UFC. Poirier enters UFC 302 because the No. 4 fighter within the official UFC light-weight rankings.
Sean Strickland held the UFC middleweight title from September 2023 by means of January 2024. He misplaced the belt in his first title protection, dropping a break up resolution to Dricus du Plessis. Paulo Costa is coming off a February 2024 resolution loss to ex-UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.
Strickland is ranked No. 1 within the UFC middleweight division forward of UFC 302. Costa checks in at No. 7.
UFC 302 outcomes, winners and losers can be up to date reside all through tonight’s pay-per-view card.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 30: Islam Makhachev of Russia poses on stage in the course of the UFC 302 press … [+]
Zuffa LLC through Getty PhotosUFC 302 Winners
Kevin Holland: Kevin Holland has a status as a fighter with extra mouth than expertise. Whereas a few of that rep is deserved, Holland is a high-level fighter with expertise in all places. He confirmed that on Saturday after getting tagged by a left by Michal Oleksiejczuk, recovering from that blow to lock up a battle ending armbar on this middleweight contest.
As Holland mentioned after the battle, “I believe I’m the very best gatekeeper you guys have ever seen.”
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 01: Kevin Holland secures an arm bar submission in opposition to Michal … [+]
Zuffa LLC through Getty PhotosNiko Worth: Niko Worth, who bought a full camp for UFC 302, used his cardio to choose up a win over Alex Morono, who was a late alternative opponent. Worth’s tempo was simply an excessive amount of for a sapped Morono. This was not an important efficiency from Worth, however he did sufficient to win, ending his two-fight shedding skid.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 01: (L-R) Niko Worth punches Alex Morono in a welterweight battle throughout … [+]
Zuffa LLC through Getty PhotosRandy Brown: Randy Brown did an important job within the first spherical of his welterweight scrap in opposition to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. He confirmed easy motion, admiral footwork, and the power to make use of his size and attain to attain together with his putting. He additionally confirmed the power to land some highly effective knees when he discovered the time and area. When issues didn’t go his method within the second spherical, Brown didn’t hand over, reversing Dos Santos close to the tip of the stanza after struggling together with his opponent’s grappling.
Brown is now on a three-fight profitable streak and can possible get a shot at a ranked opponent the following time he steps into the Octagon.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 01: (R-L) Randy Brown of Jamaica punches Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos of … [+]
Zuffa LLC through Getty PhotosJailton Almeida: Jailton Almeida made a foul resolution in his final battle, hanging onto a leg when he shouldn’t have and getting knocked out by Curtis Blaydes. He wanted a redemptive efficiency to bounce again from that loss.
I don’t know if he bought that on Saturday, however he did his factor, utilizing his wrestling and submission expertise to choose up a fast first-round submission win over a really overmatched Alexander Romanov.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 01: (L-R) Jailton Almeida of Brazil works for a submission in opposition to … [+]
Zuffa LLC through Getty PhotosGrant Dawson: Grant Dawson had a tough go of issues within the first spherical of his battle in opposition to Joe Solecki, discovering himself in a choke try and bloodied by an elbow. Nonetheless, Dawson spent the following 10 minutes of the scrap in a prime place, ringing up floor strikes and incomes a choice win. It wasn’t the prettiest victory, however Dawson did what he wanted to do to choose up the win.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 01: (L-R) Grant Dawson battles Joe Solecki in a light-weight battle throughout … [+]
Zuffa LLC through Getty PhotosJake Matthews: Jake Matthews used energy, aggression and floor management to choose up a choice win over Philip Rowe at UFC 302. Rowe tried to make use of his size to maintain Matthews at bay, however Matthews simply bullied his method inside and as soon as there he landed highly effective strikes to choose up the choice win. With the victory, Matthews has alternated wins and losses over his previous seven fights.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 01: (L-R) Jake Matthews of Australia punches Phil Rowe in a welterweight … [+]
Zuffa LLC through Getty PhotosBassil Hafez: Bassil Hafez’s effort at UFC 302 was a combined bag. He did an okay job with throwing with energy, however he didn’t do loads to arrange his putting as soon as the battle moved into the second spherical.
Nonetheless, Hafez landed with extra energy and frequency, giving him the unanimous resolution nod.
Hafez must work on his cardio, setups, and protection, however he may very well be a enjoyable fighter to look at within the UFC welterweight division.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 01: (L-R) Bassil Hafez punches Mickey Gall in a welterweight battle throughout … [+]
Zuffa LLC through Getty PhotosAndre Lima: Andre Lima missed weight by 5 kilos, which was not a good way to begin his UFC 302 curtain jerkeragainst late alternative opponent Mitch Raposo.
Lima regarded superb in opposition to his overmatched foe. He was calm and measured and used his leg kicks to his benefit. He had no drawback choosing up what ought to have been a transparent unanimous resolution win.
The factor to look at with Lima is that if he could make weight. He did so for his March UFC debut, however weighing in at 130 for a 125-pound scrap can’t occur greater than as soon as.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 01: Andre Lima of Brazil reacts after the conclusion of his flyweight … [+]
Zuffa LLC through Getty PhotosUFC 302 Losers
Michal Oleksiejczuk: Michal Oleksiejczuk fought to his strengths from the beginning, seeking to shut distance and land highly effective strikes. Nonetheless, he was not prepared for the submission sport of his opponent, Kevin Holland, who locked in a nasty armbar to finish the battle.
Alex Morono: Alex Morono ran out of gasoline in opposition to Niko Worth. His cardio, which failed him within the second spherical, left him wanting gradual and reluctant to have interaction.
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos: Exterior of the second spherical, the place he locked up a choke try, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos struggled in opposition to Randy Brown. He couldn’t shut vary, and he couldn’t take care of the size of his foe. The loss ended a three-fight unbeaten streak for Dos Santos.
Joe Solecki: Joe Solecki tried to make use of his grappling expertise to negate Grant Dawson’s putting. Exterior of getting some success within the first spherical, he failed.
Philip Rowe: Philip Rowe used his size nicely in opposition to Jake Matthews. He used a quick jab to bloody Matthews early within the first spherical, however he couldn’t keep at bay the aggression of his opponent. With the choice loss, Rowe is on the primary shedding skid of his MMA profession since he went 0-2 in his first two professional fights.
Mickey Gall: Mickey Gall landed an honest quantity of strikes in opposition to Bassil Hafez, however he didn’t have the ability behind his punches to sway the judges. Gall did an honest job of preventing behind his jab, however his lack of energy prevented him from choosing up the factors he wanted in opposition to the defensively poor Hafez.
With the loss, Gall, who had not competed since 2022, dropped to 0-3 in his previous three outings. His most up-to-date victory got here in 2021.
Mitch Raposo: Mitch Raposo was overmatched in opposition to Andre Lima. He regarded reluctant to have interaction, and when he did, Raposo threw his strikes as single blows as an alternative of in mixtures.
This was Raposo’s UFC debut and it got here on brief discover, so it is perhaps the very best battle to evaluate what the longer term holds for him. Nonetheless, he wants to point out a variety of enchancment in his subsequent outing.
Referees: The referees at UFC 302 allowed a number of fouls to go unpunished, together with a headbutt within the second battle of the evening. This is likely one of the greatest failings of MMA officers. They should implement the principles.
UFC Commentators: It’s irritating to listen to veteran UFC workers like Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier get the scoring standards incorrect extra typically than they get it proper. I’d implore followers who’re curious about scoring fights to learn the standards as it’s written and ignore a lot of the speak of the likes of Rogan and Cormier, particularly in the case of floor management and having issue awarding a spherical to a fighter who’s in backside place.
UFC 302 Battle Card
UFC 302 Pay-Per-View card
Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier
Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa
Kevin Holland defeats Michal Oleksiejczuk through submission at 1:34 of Spherical 1 (armbar)
Niko Worth defeats Alex Morono through unanimous resolution (29-28 x 3)
Randy Brown defeats Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos through unanimous resolution (29-28 x 3)
UFC 302 Preliminary Card
Roman Kopylov defeats Cesar Almeida through break up resolution (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Jailton Almeida defeats Alexander Romanov through submission at 2:27 of Spherical 1 (rear-naked choke)
Grant Dawson defeats Joe Solecki through unanimous resolution (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Jake Matthews defeats Philip Rowe through unanimous resolution (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
UFC 302 Early Preliminary Card
Bassil Hafez defeats Mickey Gall through unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Ailn Perez defeats Joselyne Edwards through unanimous resolution (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Andre Lima defeats Mitch Raposo through break up resolution (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
UFC 302 Battle Evening Bonuses
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 31: Dustin Poirier is launched in the course of the UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-in at … [+]
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