Islam Makhachev is defending his UFC Lightweight title for the third time. The previous two defenses were against Alex Volkanovski, a natural featherweight who tried to become a double champ. The two fights with Volk came after Makhachev defeated Charles Oliveira in the battle for the vacant championship belt.
Now, he’s fighting against Dustin Poirier, who thinks this could be his last chance to finally become the champion.
Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Odds
| Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|
| Islam Makhachev | -555 |
| Dustin Poirier | +405 |
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
- Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
- Time: ~10:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: PPV
Why Is Islam Makhachev Favored to Win at UFC 302
Not only is Islam Makhachev the reigning UFC Lightweight champion but he’s also sitting at the top of the UFC Pound-for-Pound Rankings. He is 25-1 overall with his only loss happening back in 2015 in his second UFC fight. Adriano Martins, who’s since dropped into obscurity, beat him by a KO after just 106 seconds in the Octagon.
However, since then, Makhachev has upped his game. He went on to win against many elite lightweights, most notably Charles Oliveira whom he defeated with his weapon – submission.
The win over the 3rd-degree BJJ black belt shouldn’t surprise you. After all, Makhachev is a protégé of legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov whom many consider to be the UFC GOAT.
Can Dustin Poirier Stage a Huge Upset?
Dustin Poirier’s odds at BetOnline are +402, which makes him the biggest underdog in UFC Lightweight Championship bouts since Al Iaquinta in the fight with Khabib.
And if Poirier wins the title on June 1, he’s gonna become the biggest betting underdog in the history of the division to become champion. So, can he pull it off? You can be 100% sure that he will give his very best.
Dustin is already 35 and given that he’s been fighting professionally since 2009, it’s no surprise that he’s thinking about retirement. This means that the UFC 302 main event is probably his last chance to win the title.
Speaking of which, he has already tried to win it twice. First, it was against Islam’s tutor Khabib who beat him by submission in 2019. His second title fight was against Charles Oliveira who beat him by the same method.
Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier UFC 302 Prediction
Dustin Poirier is almost a perfect fighter. He’s a fantastic striker, with amazing fight IQ, superb stamina, and great wrestling skills. He’s also a decent grappler, the evidence being that he’s got a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, he’s just not as good as Makhachev. If the champ gets him on the ground, we think it’s game over for Dustin.
Pick: Islam Makhachev