Makhachev submits Poirier in gruelling title fight

Islam Makhachev submitted Dustin Poirier successful nan 5th information of a gruelling title to clasp his lightweight title astatine UFC 302 successful New Jersey.

Russian Makhachev's elite grappling proved nan quality arsenic nan 32-year-old secured a d'arce choke, forcing American Poirier to submit.

The triumph astatine nan Prudential Centre was Makhachev's 3rd defence of his loop while Poirier, 35, hinted astatine status aft coming up short successful what is apt to beryllium his last effort astatine becoming undisputed champion.

"I cognize I tin compete pinch nan best, but if I do conflict again what americium I fighting for?" said Poirier.

"I've sewage a small woman that I love. I don’t know, I deliberation this could beryllium it, honestly."

If Poirier does retire, he will exit nan athletics arsenic 1 of nan top mixed martial artists to not triumph an undisputed UFC title.

The communicative during nan build-up had been whether Poirier could declare nan loop astatine his 3rd effort aft defeats by Khabib Nurmagomedov successful 2019 and Charles Oliveira successful 2021.

Poirier has 1 of nan astir distinguished resumes successful MMA history, winning 21 of his 30 UFC fights since his debut successful 2011, including an interim title triumph against Max Holloway successful 2019, but has said becoming undisputed champion is nan logic he first put connected a brace of gloves arsenic a 17-year-old.

In Makhachev he was facing arguably nan UFC’s biggest challenge, however, pinch nan pound-for-pound number 1 winning 25 of his 26 master fights heading into nan contest.

Both fighters oozed assurance during their walkouts, pinch Poirier singing and bouncing towards nan octagon and Makhachev flanked by erstwhile champion and team-mate Nurmagomedov, who could beryllium seen offering proposal successful nan champion’s ear.

Makhachev showcased his formidable all-round expertise earlier, worrying Poirier pinch a boxing operation earlier landing a takedown and spending nan remainder of nan information searching for submissions connected nan ground.

Poirier started to find occurrence successful nan adjacent fewer rounds, defending takedowns from Makhachev and utilising his boxing but nan Russian continued to onshore pinch punches of his own.

With some fighters sporting bloodied faces - Poirier from a conflict of heads and Makhachev from an elbow to his forehead - nan crowd roared arsenic nan bout entered nan last rounds.

Makhachev mixed up his striking, clinching and takedown attempts beautifully throughout, but Poirier was valiant successful defence, getting backmost to his feet connected aggregate occasions, wherever nan title offered his champion chance of victory.

The decisive infinitesimal came successful nan 5th information arsenic Makhachev expertly ankle picked Poirer earlier spinning and pouncing connected apical to unafraid nan fight-ending choke.

Following victory, Makhachev was swarmed successful ceremony by his team, earlier embracing Poirier alongside Nurmagomedov successful a poignant show of respect betwixt nan 2 teams.

"I deliberation Dustin had a awesome game, his coaches taught him very well. He defends my takedowns very good and gave maine difficult time. He is simply a champ and fable of this sport," said Makhachev.

The Russian past revealed his ambition to move up to welterweight successful an effort to go a two-division champion.

"It's my dream. I want to conflict for nan 2nd belt. I want to consciousness that power again, I request a caller one,” said Makhachev.

Poirier paid tribute to his family arsenic contemplates nan determination to put down his gloves.

“I’m not 100% but if this is my past fight, I want to dedicate this conflict to nan group who made maine nan man I americium and that’s nan women successful my life," said Poirier.

"To my grandmother, I miss you each day. To my mother, we’ve had a crazy life, I emotion you. To my wife, I don’t cognize if I’d beryllium opinionated present without you. And to my daughter, I emotion you truthful much, ever pursuit your dreams, it’s a beautiful thing.”

In nan co-main event, American Sean Strickland hit Brazilian middleweight Paulo Costa by divided decision.

Former champion Strickland, 33, put his customary unit connected Costa passim nan five-round conflict pinch Costa, 33, backing up passim nan mostly of nan contest.

Following nan bout, Strickland called for a title conflict against South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis, who he suffered conclusion by for nan loop past year.

Du Plessis is speculated to beryllium making nan first defence of his title against Israel Adesanya later successful nan year.