Intense Staredown Between Makhachev and Poirier
Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier have cranked up the heat ahead of their UFC 302 showdown.
Heated Press Conference
At Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, both fighters traded sharp words, but it was during their staredown that tensions really escalated. Security had to step in to separate the reigning UFC lightweight champion and Poirier after a fiery exchange.
“I’m going to knock you out on Saturday,” Poirier declared after some initial confusion about Makhachev’s comments.
“How?” replied the UFC lightweight champ.
“Sleep,” Poirier responded. “I’m going to sleep stop you.”
“You’re going to be diving for my legs, praying,” Poirier continued. “You’re going to be laying and praying, that’s what you’re going to be doing.”
“Go to sleep, motherf*cker,” Poirier added.
“Don’t say motherf*cker to me,” Makhachev retorted, turning back angrily.
“Go to sleep, motherf*cker,” Poirier repeated.
“Don’t say motherf*cker,” Makhachev repeated.
Visa detta inlägg på Instagram
TRENDING
- RYAN GARCIA’S SUPPLEMENTS TESTED POSITIVE FOR OSTARINE
- ISLAM MAKHACHEV ON KHABIB’S UFC RETURN: “HE WAS VERY NERVOUS”
- POIRIER CLAPS BACK AT MAKHACHEV: “HE’S LYING TO HIMSELF”
Title Fight Background
UFC 302 takes place on June 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Makhachev, 32, aims to tie the UFC’s record for most consecutive lightweight title defenses with his third defense. He is coming off a spectacular knockout win against Alexander Volkanovski and boasts a 13-fight win streak .
Dustin Poirier, 35, is making his third attempt at the undisputed UFC title after previous losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. Poirier recently scored a knockout victory over Benoît Saint Denis and is determined to secure the gold this time .
UFC 302 Fight Card
The UFC 302 fight card is packed with exciting matchups:
Main Card (Start time 10:00 PM EDT, PPV):
- Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier, lightweight (title fight)
- Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa, middleweight
- Kevin Holland vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk, middleweight
- Jailton Almeida vs. Alexander Romanov, heavyweight
- Randy Brown vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, welterweight
Prelims (Start time 8:00 PM EDT, ESPN2/ESPN+):
- Cesar Almeida vs. Roman Kopylov, middleweight
- Grant Dawson vs. Joe Solecki, lightweight
- Niko Price vs. Alex Morono, welterweight
- Philip Rowe vs. Jake Matthews, welterweight
Early Prelims (Start time 6:00 PM EDT, ESPN+):
- Mickey Gall vs. Bassil Hafez, welterweight
- Ailin Perez vs. Joselyne Edwards, women’s bantamweight
- Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira, flyweight
- Andre Lima vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel, flyweight
Fight Strategies and Expectations
Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev’s mentor, has emphasized a strategy similar to the one used against Poirier in their previous encounter. Nurmagomedov and Makhachev have been working to refine Makhachev’s ground game, which they believe will be crucial for victory . Meanwhile, Poirier will need to leverage his striking skills and keep the fight standing, where he has an advantage over Makhachev .
This matchup promises to be electrifying as these lightweight titans clash in the octagon. Fans can expect an unforgettable night when UFC 302 unfolds.
