UFC CEO Dana White has made it a habit of breaking news in his post-fight press conferences and tonight was no different. After a historic event in Las Vegas, White took to the podium and announced two massive PPV events that are coming up this year.
White announced that at UFC 302 in Newark, NJ on June 2nd, the lightweight title will be on the line in the main event. Champion Islam Makhachev (25-1) will be taking on “The Diamond” Dustin Poirier (30-8). In addition, the co-main event will be a five-round fight between Sean Strickland (28-6) and Paulo Costa (14-3).
Dustin Poirier earns this title shot off his brilliant performance against Benoit Saint-Denis last month at UFC 299. Poirier took a fight that he didn’t have to against a dangerous guy on a finishing streak and knocked him out in the second round. Islam Makhachev was wanting to fight in June and after that performance, Poirier gets the opportunity.
UFC 302
UFC 302 will mark the first title defense for Islam Makhachev against a true lightweight. He won the title from Charles Oliveira back in 2022 and his first two title defenses came against former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. His second title defense was supposed to be against Oliveira, but a cut forced Oliveira out and Volkanovski stepped in for their rematch.
In his last performance against Volkanovski, he put on the performance of his career. He knocked out Volk in the first round with a beautiful head kick. Makhachev continues to get better and better but he’ll have a tough challenge in taking on Dustin Poirier in June. It’s a massive fight for the lightweight title.