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UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier
The poster for UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateJune 1, 2024 (2024-06-01)
VenuePrudential Center
CityNewark, New Jersey, United States
Attendance17,834[1]
Total gate$7,255,040[1]
Buyrate410,000[2]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov

UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on June 1, 2024, at the Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey, United States.[3]

Background

[edit]

The event marked the promotion's tenth visit to Newark and first since UFC 288 in May 2023.[3]

The debut of the new UFC Official Fight Gloves took place at this event.[4][5]

A UFC Lightweight Championship bout between current champion Islam Makhachev and former interim champion Dustin Poirier headlined the event.[6]

A five-round middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland and former title challenger Paulo Costa took place in the co-main event.[6]

A heavyweight bout between former Bellator Heavyweight World Champion Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida was expected to take place at this event.[7] However, the bout was scrapped for unknown reasons and Volkov was booked for UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Chimaev against former interim UFC Heavyweight Championship challenger Sergei Pavlovich.[8] Almeida faced Alexander Romanov instead.[9]

A women's strawweight bout between former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Gillian Robertson was scheduled for the event.[10] However, the bout was postponed to UFC 303 for unknown reasons.[11]

Jeremiah Wells was expected to face Niko Price in a welterweight bout.[12] However, Wells pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Alex Morono.[13] Price and Morono previously met at UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie in February 2017, with the bout originally ending via second-round knockout for Price, before ultimately being overturned to a no contest due to him testing positive for marijuana.[14][15]

Su Mudaerji and Joshua Van were expected to meet in a flyweight bout at this event.[16] However, Su pulled out in late April due to undisclosed reasons.[17] He was replaced by Tatsuro Taira.[18] In turn, both fighters were moved to UFC on ESPN: Perez vs. Taira two weeks later, where Taira faced a different opponent and Van's bout was ultimately cancelled.[19][20]

A middleweight bout between Roman Dolidze and former LFA Middleweight Champion Anthony Hernandez was scheduled to take place at the event.[21] However, Hernandez was forced out of the bout due to a torn ligament in his hand.[22]

Road to UFC Season 1 flyweight winner Park Hyun-sung was expected to face André Lima.[23] However, he pulled out due to a knee injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Nyamjargal Tumendemberel.[24] In turn, Tumendemberel was forced to withdraw from the event due to visa issues and was replaced by Mitch Raposo.[25] At the weigh ins, Lima weighed in at 130 pounds, four pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 30 percent of his purse which went to Raposo.[26]

Results

[edit]
Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Lightweight Islam Makhachev (c) def. Dustin Poirier Submission (brabo choke) 5 2:42 [a]
Middleweight Sean Strickland def. Paulo Costa Decision (split) (46–49, 50–45, 49–46) 5 5:00
Middleweight Kevin Holland def. Michał Oleksiejczuk Technical Submission (armbar) 1 1:34
Welterweight Niko Price def. Alex Morono Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Welterweight Randy Brown def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Preliminary card (ESPN 2 / ESPN+)
Middleweight Roman Kopylov def. César Almeida Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) 3 5:00
Heavyweight Jailton Almeida def. Alexander Romanov Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 2:27
Lightweight Grant Dawson def. Joe Solecki Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Welterweight Jake Matthews def. Philip Rowe Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Early preliminary card (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass)
Welterweight Bassil Hafez def. Mickey Gall Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Women's Bantamweight Ailín Pérez def. Joselyne Edwards Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Catchweight (130 lb) André Lima def. Mitch Raposo Decision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 30–27) 3 5:00
  1. ^ For the UFC Lightweight Championship.

[27]

Bonus awards

[edit]

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[28]

  • Fight of the Night: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier
  • Performance of the Night: Islam Makhachev and Kevin Holland

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

UFC 302

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UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier was a mixed martial arts pay-per-view event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on June 1, 2024, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, United States.[1][2] The event was headlined by a UFC Lightweight Championship bout in which champion Islam Makhachev defended his title against former interim champion Dustin Poirier, with Makhachev securing a fifth-round submission victory via D'arce choke at 2:42.[3][2] The co-main event featured former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland defeating Paulo Costa by split decision after five rounds.[3][2] The card included several notable performances, such as Kevin Holland's first-round technical submission win over Michał Oleksiejczuk via armbar, which earned Performance of the Night honors, and the main event receiving Fight of the Night honors.[3][2] Makhachev's victory marked his third consecutive lightweight title defense and extended his winning streak to 14 fights.[3] The event drew an attendance of 17,834 and generated a live gate of $7,250,000, setting a new record for the highest gate in Prudential Center history.[2] UFC 302 marked the promotion's tenth event held in Newark and served as the debut venue for the redesigned UFC Official Fight Gloves, which were introduced to improve fighter safety by reducing eye pokes and hand injuries while enhancing mobility and flexibility.[4][5] The redesign, developed in collaboration with fighters and experts, featured adjustments to stitching, padding, and wrist support.[4]

Background

Event details

UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier was a mixed martial arts pay-per-view event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on June 1, 2024, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, United States.[1][6] The event marked the promotion's tenth appearance at the Prudential Center and the first since UFC 288 in May 2023.[6] It drew an attendance of 17,834 and generated a live gate of $7,255,040, setting a new record as the highest-grossing sporting event in the arena's history.[7] The card also introduced the new UFC Official Fight Gloves in competition.[4]

Main event buildup

The main event of UFC 302 was a UFC Lightweight Championship bout pitting reigning champion Islam Makhachev against challenger Dustin Poirier.^1 UFC CEO Dana White announced the matchup in April 2024, with the event scheduled for June 1, 2024, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.^2 The card also featured a co-main event between Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa.^2 Makhachev entered as the undisputed lightweight champion, having captured the title and defended it twice against former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in 2023—one by decision and the other by first-round knockout—which propelled him to the No. 1 pound-for-pound ranking and a 13-fight winning streak.^3 His dominance drew comparisons to his friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, with notable improvements in striking since an early-career loss.^3 This bout marked Makhachev's first title defense against a top lightweight contender since his championship reign began, positioning it as a key test of his ability to maintain supremacy in the division.^4 Poirier, a former interim lightweight champion and two-time unsuccessful challenger for the undisputed title, earned his opportunity with a second-round TKO win over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299 in March 2024, rebounding from a 2023 knockout loss to Justin Gaethje.^4 As one of the division's most accomplished veterans, Poirier was promoted as a resilient fan favorite seeking to complete his legacy by capturing the undisputed belt he had long pursued, with his own comments framing the fight as a "now or never" moment.^3 Promotional narratives highlighted the classic stylistic clash: Makhachev's elite grappling and control against Poirier's elite striking and durability, promising a high-stakes collision between the division's dominant champion and a seasoned contender aiming to "finish his story."^4 Makhachev was positioned as a heavy favorite aiming to further solidify his pound-for-pound status, while Poirier's narrative emphasized his experience and emotional drive for a career-defining achievement.^3

Co-main event buildup

The co-main event of UFC 302 featured a five-round middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland and perennial contender Paulo Costa. Strickland, who had lost the title to Dricus du Plessis via split decision at UFC 297 earlier in 2024, aimed to rebound and position himself for another title opportunity, while Costa sought to rebound following his loss to Robert Whittaker in 2022 and a prolonged layoff to reassert his standing in the division.[8][9] Promotion emphasized the matchup's high stakes and stylistic contrast, pitting Strickland's high-volume pressure striking and defensive tenacity against Costa's explosive power and aggressive forward bursts. UFC officials positioned the bout as a pivotal contest in the middleweight title picture, with Strickland expressing confidence that he was the superior fighter and that victory was his to lose provided he avoided critical errors. He described Costa's approach as one of backing up before exploding forward to land heavy strikes, stressing the need to "just don’t be a f*cking idiot" in execution.[9][10] The pre-fight buildup featured lively exchanges during the UFC 302 press conference, where both fighters brought significant energy despite the bout's co-main status. Strickland, known for his brash persona, engaged the crowd with profanity-laced commentary while praising Costa personally, stating he liked him and found him "funny." Costa complemented the atmosphere by hyping the New Jersey crowd and predicting an electric event, though he took light jabs at Strickland, including calling him a "soy boy with a liberal chin" during media day. The faceoff was notably awkward amid fan chants, reflecting mutual respect rather than deep-seated animosity.[10][11] Commentators and analysts anticipated a striking-heavy affair with potential to steal the show, dubbing it a candidate for Fight of the Night due to both fighters' offensive output and willingness to engage over 25 minutes.

Other key matchups

Several notable bouts on the UFC 302 main card and preliminary card provided compelling pre-fight storylines beyond the championship and co-main events. The main card opened with a welterweight matchup between Randy Brown and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, both of whom entered with strong recent records and on the cusp of the division's top 15. Brown held an 8-2 mark over his previous 10 fights, including a knockout victory over Muslim Salikhov earlier in the year, while dos Santos was unbeaten in his last three outings and boasted a 10-2-1 record across his prior 13 appearances. A win in this technical striking battle was seen as a potential step toward solidified rankings contention for either fighter.[8] Another key main card middleweight clash featured Kevin Holland returning to the 185-pound division against Michał Oleksiejczuk. Holland, ranked No. 15 in the welterweight standings at the time, came in seeking to snap a slide after back-to-back defeats and four losses in his previous six bouts, including a split decision loss to Michael Page at UFC 299. Oleksiejczuk, a Polish striker with 14 of his 19 wins by knockout or TKO, aimed to secure the biggest victory of his UFC career against a higher-profile opponent. Holland's seven-inch reach advantage (81" to 74") and experience without drastic weight cuts to welterweight were highlighted as factors favoring him in what was expected to be a stand-up striking encounter.[8][12][13] On the main card, a heavyweight bout pitted grapplers Jailton Almeida and Alexandr Romanov against each other. Almeida, a Brazilian known for his offensive wrestling, top control, and submission hunting, sought to rebound from his first UFC loss to Curtis Blaydes and regain momentum after starting his promotional tenure with six straight wins. Romanov, a Moldovan fighter with a freestyle wrestling background, entered looking to capitalize on his explosive takedowns and top pressure to revive his trajectory after recent setbacks. The matchup was anticipated to feature intense ground exchanges, with Almeida's athleticism and jiu-jitsu potentially providing an edge in prolonged grappling.[8][14] Among preliminary card highlights was a welterweight rematch between Niko Price and Alex Morono. Price aimed to end a two-fight losing streak and reverse a 2-4 record (with one no contest) in his previous seven appearances, while Morono sought to build on a recent unanimous decision win over Court McGee. The rematch added intrigue given their prior history, with both seasoned fighters bringing aggressive styles and durability to the Octagon.[8]

Fight card changes

Several changes affected the UFC 302 fight card prior to the June 1, 2024 event. The heavyweight bout originally scheduled between Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida was cancelled when Volkov was removed from the card by the promotion. Almeida was then matched against Alexandr Romanov instead.[15] Later, the Almeida vs. Romanov matchup was shifted from the main card to the preliminary card, with Niko Price vs. Alex Morono promoted to the main card in its place. The middleweight bout between Roman Dolidze and Anthony Hernandez was cancelled after Hernandez withdrew due to a torn ligament in his hand, an injury sustained during training and confirmed by MRI.[16] In the welterweight division, Jeremiah Wells withdrew from his scheduled fight against Niko Price for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Alex Morono. The women's strawweight bout between Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Gillian Robertson was postponed to a later event. In the flyweight division, the matchup involving Andre Lima underwent multiple alterations. Park Hyun-sung withdrew due to a knee injury and was replaced by Nyamjargal Tumendemberel. Tumendemberel subsequently withdrew due to visa issues and was replaced by Mitch Raposo, a Dana White's Contender Series veteran.[17] At the weigh-ins, Lima came in at 130 pounds—four pounds over the flyweight non-title limit—resulting in the bout proceeding at catchweight. Lima was fined 30% of his purse, which was awarded to Raposo.[18]

Milestones and innovations

UFC 302 marked the promotion's tenth event held in Newark, New Jersey, at the Prudential Center, dating back to the venue's first UFC event in 2007.[19][20] The milestone followed nine previous Newark events, including notable cards such as UFC 78, UFC 111, UFC 128, UFC 169, and UFC 288.[20] A key innovation debuted at the event was the new UFC Official Fight Gloves, known as the 3EIGHT (standard) and 5EIGHT (champions' golden version) series.[4] These gloves represented a transformative redesign aimed at improving athlete protection, fit, and performance while reducing common injuries. Key features included a lighter weight (3-4.9 oz, 1-1.5 oz lighter than the prior model), a rescaled unisex sizing system from XXXS to XXXXL, a new wristband locking system to prevent opponents from grabbing the glove, seamless palm-side construction to minimize abrasions and cuts, innovative padding to reduce eye pokes and maintain natural finger positioning, and additional side padding on the index and pinky fingers for bone protection.[4] The gloves incorporated VICIS RFLX advanced layered foam technology with impact-absorbing protection and PTFE slip-planes for enhanced flexibility.[4] Developed through collaboration with product developers, athletes, coaches, VICIS RDI (a leader in sports equipment engineering), and manufacturer Dyaco, the redesign drew on scientific data and engineering principles to prioritize injury prevention and mobility. UFC CEO and President Dana White called the gloves a "game changer for the entire sport of MMA," noting that they would "feel lighter, fit fighters’ hands better, prevent injuries, and provide maximum flexibility during the fights."[4] The event on June 1, 2024, with a sold-out attendance of more than 17,800, served as the first competitive use of these redesigned gloves in UFC history.[19][4]

Results

Main card

The main card for UFC 302 featured five bouts, highlighted by the lightweight title defense in the main event. Randy Brown vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Randy Brown defeated Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds.[3] Niko Price vs. Alex Morono
Niko Price defeated Alex Morono by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds.[3] Kevin Holland vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Kevin Holland defeated Michal Oleksiejczuk by technical submission (armbar) in the first round at 1:34.[3] Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa
In the co-main event, Sean Strickland defeated Paulo Costa by split decision (49-46, 50-45, 49-46) after five rounds.[21] Islam Makhachev (c) vs. Dustin Poirier
In the main event, UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev defeated Dustin Poirier by submission (D’arce choke) in the fifth round at 2:42, retaining his title.[3][1]

Preliminary card

The preliminary card, which aired on ESPN and ESPN+, consisted of four bouts. The card opened with a welterweight matchup between Jake Matthews and Philip Rowe. Matthews won by unanimous decision after three rounds, with judges scoring the fight 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27.[22][21] Next, in a lightweight bout, Grant Dawson defeated Joe Solecki by unanimous decision. The judges' scorecards read 29-28, 30-27, and 30-27 in favor of Dawson.[22][21] Heavyweight Jailton Almeida then faced Alexandr Romanov. Almeida won by submission via rear-naked choke at 2:27 of the first round.[22] The preliminary card concluded with a middleweight contest between Roman Kopylov and Cesar Almeida. Kopylov earned a split decision victory, with the judges scoring the fight 29-28, 30-27, and 29-28.[22][21]

Early preliminary card

The early preliminary card for UFC 302 consisted of three bouts and aired on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. In the opening fight, Andre Lima defeated Mitch Raposo by split decision in a flyweight bout contested at a catchweight of 130 pounds after Lima missed the non-title flyweight limit by four pounds. The judges scored the contest 30–27 and 30–27 for Lima, with 29–28 for Raposo after three rounds.[22][21] Ailín Pérez then defeated Joselyne Edwards by unanimous decision in a women's bantamweight bout. The judges awarded Pérez the victory with scores of 30–27, 29–28, and 29–28 after three rounds.[21][22] In the final early preliminary bout, Bassil Hafez defeated Mickey Gall by unanimous decision in a welterweight bout. The judges scored the fight 30–27, 30–27, and 29–28 for Hafez after three rounds.[21][22]

Post-event

Bonus awards

UFC officials awarded post-fight bonuses of $50,000 each following UFC 302. Fight of the Night was awarded to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and challenger Dustin Poirier for their main event title bout.[23][24] Performance of the Night bonuses went to Makhachev for his performance in the main event and to Kevin Holland for his middleweight bout against Michal Oleksiejczuk.[23][24] As a result, Makhachev received a total of $100,000 in bonuses.[23][24]

Financial performance

UFC 302 generated a live gate of $7,255,040 from an attendance of 17,834 spectators at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.[25][26] This figure marked the highest-grossing sporting event in the arena's history, surpassing the previous record held by a Rolling Stones concert.[25] The UFC's official reporting rounded these numbers to a gate of $7.3 million from more than 17,800 attendees, while noting the event's broader economic impact of $26.8 million on the Newark metropolitan area through direct spending, taxes, and employment support.[19] Pay-per-view buys for the event were estimated at 410,000, according to Dave Meltzer in the March 30, 2026, issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.[27] This estimate emerged as part of a broader report on UFC pay-per-view performance from 2024 and 2025, with UFC 302's numbers reflecting its position among events from that period.[27]

References

  1. UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier | UFC
  2. UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier | MMA Event
  3. UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier Main Card Results | Winner Interviews, Highlights And More From Newark
  4. UFC ANNOUNCES TRANSFORMATIVE REDESIGN OF THE UFC OFFICIAL FIGHT GLOVE | UFC
  5. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/39929513/new-ufc-gloves-reduce-eye-pokes-hand-injuries-debut-june
  6. UFC 302: UFC Returns to Newark, NJ | Prudential Center
  7. https://www.mmaweekly.com/news/ufc-302-bonuses-main-event-earns-fight-of-the-night
  8. Fight By Fight Preview | UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier | UFC
  9. Sean Strickland before UFC 302: Paulo Costa knows I'm better than him, 'I just have to f*ck up' to lose
  10. Strickland, Costa bring main event energy to UFC 302 despite co-main spot - Sportsnet.ca
  11. UFC 302 video: Sean Strickland, Paulo Costa show respect while fans chant during press conference faceoff - Yahoo Sports
  12. UFC 302 Odds, Pick & Prediction for Kevin Holland vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk: 3-1 Pick for Main Card (Saturday, June 1)
  13. Kevin Holland vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk: Odds, full fight preview and prediction | UFC 302 | MMA Mania
  14. Jailton Almeida vs. Alexander Romanov: Odds, full fight preview and prediction | UFC 302 | MMA Mania
  15. Jailton Almeida gets new UFC 302 opponent Alexandr Romanov - Yahoo Sports
  16. Anthony Hernandez out of UFC 302 fight with Roman Dolidze | MMA Fighting
  17. Updates to UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier | UFC
  18. https://www.sportsnet.ca/ufc/article/ufc-302-weigh-ins-results-one-fighter-misses-by-four-pounds/
  19. UFC DELIVERED $26.8 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR NEWARK IN 2024 | UFC
  20. Best UFC Fights To Happen In Newark | UFC
  21. Official Judges Scorecards | UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier
  22. UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier Prelim Results | Winner Interviews, Highlights And More From Newark
  23. UFC 302 bonuses: Islam Makhachev doubles up for extra $100K | MMA Fighting
  24. UFC 302 bonuses: Islam Makhachev double-dips for $100,000 in thriller vs. Dustin Poirier
  25. UFC 302 post-fight bonus winners, attendance and gate information
  26. https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-mma-boxing-news-dana-white-humbles-boxing-with-seven-million-dollars-record-as-shakur-stevenson-embarrassingly-falls-short-of-ufc-302-gate/
  27. Report: Multiple UFC pay-per-view buys from 2024 & 2025
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