UFC 302 LIVE: Poirier vs Makhachev fight updates and results tonight

Poirier kicks low, and immediately Makhachev shoots for a single-leg takedown. Poirier manages to wriggle free, and the crowd loves that!

“U-S-A” is the chant in New Jersey. Poirier backs up Makhachev and lands a decent elbow in the clinch. Makhachev with a hard knee. The lightweights separate.

Again Makhachev tries a single-leg, and again Poirier scrambles and escapes. Good cross by Makhachev. Nice jab now.

More straight punches from Makhachev – jabs and crosses. He wings a right hook then drives for a single-leg, getting Poirier to the fence. But Poirier reverses the position! Very impressive.

Both men stand southpaw. They’re the first fighters ever to wear gold UFC gloves.

Makhachev holds the centre of the ring. Good right hand from Poirier, but Makhachev fires back with a one-two.

He grabs ahold of Poirier and dumps him to the canvas already! Right by the fence. Makhachev is in half-guard, firing off short punches.

The crowd boos. Makhachev is working on an arm-triangle choke… He could pivot to the Americana. He goes for a Kimura instead!

Poirier rolls out of it well, but Makhachev quickly takes his back. He’s going to want the rear naked choke, but Poirier is firing off shots – punching ove his own head – to deter the Russian.

That right hand from Poirier, earlier in the round, cut Makhachev around the champion’s left eye.

Makhachev is trying to isolate Poirier’s right arm. He may look for an armbar instead of the rear naked choke.

The crowd is willing on Poirier, who has defended well but is not getting out of this body triangle. Round one in the books.

Poirier is out first, to a mash-up walkout song. First up is a cover of “Diamonds” by Rihanna, then his usual song: “The Boss” by James Brown. The challenger is wearing special floral shorts for this one.

Now here comes Makhachev, the defending champion and pound-for-pound No 1.

Great reception for Poirier. Boos for Makhachev.

In Poirier’s long and storied MMA career, the fan favourite has earned six wins over four undisputed UFC champions. Yet none of those fighters held a UFC title when Poirier beat them, except Max Holloway in his second fight with the American; even then, Holloway was vying for the interim lightweight belt against Poirier, rather than defending his featherweight strap.

That is to say: For all of Poirier’s achievements, he has never won an undisputed UFC title. The “Diamond” claimed the interim 155lbs belt against Holloway in that 2019 rematch, adding to his past win over the Hawaiian, victories over Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez, and future wins over Conor McGregor. But the ‘official’ lightweight title has eluded Poirier.

Furthermore, the 35-year-old has beaten those champions by all imaginable means – decision, knockout, submission – but he has always failed at the technique he enjoys most: the guillotine.

Full main-event breakdown:

Poirier, a veteran and fan favourite, previously held the interim belt but has twice failed to win the official lightweight title. In 2019, the American was submitted by then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, and in 2021, Poirier lost a title fight against Charles Oliveira – again losing via submission.

Makhachev, the UFC’s pound-for-pound No 1, won the title by submitting Oliveira in 2022, and the Russian retained the belt twice in 2022 – beating Alexander Volkanovski both times. Volkanovski, who was featherweight champion at the time, lost to Makhachev on points then by knockout.

The main event is moments away…

Costa is doing better right now, throwing more low kicks again and committing to close range to land punches.

More leg kicks and body jabs from Costa, who then throws a body kick. Strickland with a teep to the body.

Costa just about lands two left hooks upstairs, but he eats a jab for his trouble.

Strickland lets his right hand go now, and he drops Costa with a head kick! Costa stands and is wobbled by another, before Strickland jumps forward with a sort of flying front kick!

To the scorecards we go…

Sean Strickland def. Paulo Costa via split decision (46-49, 50-45, 49-46)

That 49-46 scorecard to Costa is very generous.

Costa is struggling to get past Strickland’s jab. Strickland keeps stalking Costa.

The former champ throws a couple more teep kicks to the body. Costa misses with a left hook and eats a cross.

Good side kick from Costa, but again he can’t close range because of Strickland’s jabs.

Oh! Good left hook to the body by Costa, though.

Strickland has Costa scrambling to get some space – just for a moment.

Costa kicks to the body, but Strickland partially catches it. Strickland checks a low kick, and Costa seems to have been hurt by that…

Strickland is frustrating Costa with his jab now. Costa just misses with a left hook. Decent one-two now, though.

Costa is trying to deter Strickland with feints, but the American isn’t really biting.

Both men kick low. Hard outside leg kick from Costa, then a cross to the body. Again he kicks low.

Strickland’s lead leg is red, but so is Costa’s mid-section! More front kicks by Strickland, aimed at that red patch on Costa’s front.

Strickland is maintaining his pressure, keeping Costa backpedaling. Eventually Costa tries to get a body lock, but Strickland shrugs him off.

Snapping jab by Strickland, jolting back the head of Costa, who simultaneously lands a leg kick. Another well-timed shot from Strickland sends Costa tumbling into the fence. Again, though, it’s not a hard knockdown – just a timely jab.

Two low kicks from Costa early on. He looks massive in there. Strickland presses forward gently.

More low kicks from Costa. Strickland flicks out a few front kicks to the body. And again.

Neither man is rushing; they have five rounds, if they need them.

Strickland continues to press forward. Costa kicks low yet again. Nice jab by Costa. He kicks to the body, then jabs.

More front kicks from Strickland, who can’t get into boxing range. Until now! He drops Costa to his backside with a well-timed punch, though it’s not a heavy knockdown.

Costa will get worn out soon from all this backwards movement and these body kicks.