The UFC staged its latest pay-per-view event on Saturday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action.
After taking the Octagon back to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for last month's numbered card, the promotion's return to United States soil saw the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, play host to a 12-fight lineup.
In the main attraction, American fan favorite Dustin Poirier hoped to finish his story by checking the final box in his career. Standing in his way of an undisputed lightweight title crowning at the third time of trying, however, was a formidable force in Islam Makhachev.
The Dagestani champion left the crowd disappointed by submitting Poirier in the fifth round of a memorable headliner. In doing so, he tied his mentor, the great Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Benson Henderson for title defenses by notching his third at UFC 302.
All eyes were also on the co-headliner, as former middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland competed for the first time since being unseated from the throne by the barest of margins this past January in Toronto. After being denied an immediate rematch with Dricus Du Plessis, "Tarzan" staked his claim for a title shot by stalling the ambitions of Paulo Costa in a lackluster five-round affair.
Before those matchups, the likes of Kevin Holland, Niko Price, Randy Brown, Roman Kopylov, Jailton Almeida, and Bassil Hafez all had their hands raised.
With the event concluded, check out the full results below, followed by some of the highlights!
UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier Results & Highlights
Main Card:
- Lightweight Championship Main Event: Islam Makhachev def. Dustin Poirier via submission (D'arce choke): R5, 2:42
- Middleweight Co-Main Event: Sean Strickland def. Paulo Costa via split decision (50-45, 46-49, 49-46)
- Middleweight: Kevin Holland def. Michał Oleksiejczuk via submission (armbar): R1, 1:34
- Welterweight: Niko Price def. Alex Morono via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Welterweight: Randy Brown def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary Card:
- Middleweight: Roman Kopylov def. César Almeida via unanimous decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
- Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida def. Alexandr Romanov via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 2:27
- Lightweight: Grant Dawson def. Joe Solecki via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Welterweight: Jake Matthews def. Phil Rowe via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Early Preliminary Card:
- Welterweight: Bassil Hafez def. Mickey Gall via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Women's Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez def. Joselyne Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Flyweight: André Lima def. Mitch Raposo via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)