Russian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Islam Makhachev defeated submission of American lightweight Dustin Poirier and defended the title of champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for the third time. How the long-awaited confrontation turned out in Newark (New Jersey, USA) – in the Sports report.
The most star rival for Islam Makhachev started this year not just as the holder of the belt of the main MMA promotion in the world, but also as the best fighter in the league, regardless of weight categories (P4P). All those who refused to fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s successor (today Orel seconded a friend) a couple of years ago have changed their shoes. Now they themselves are throwing down challenges, dreaming of destroying the aura of indestructibility of the Russian and throwing the lightweight king off the throne.
Dustin Poirier also found a place in the contenders' queue. No one could imagine that the American, who was knocked out in the summer of 2023, would receive an undeserved “title”. But that’s how the circumstances turned out. The top fighters in the division lost their last fights, and number one in the rating Arman Tsarukyan did not have time to fully prepare for the first day of summer. So the UFC bosses bet on the eminent veteran, who defeated Conor McGregor twice and held the interim belt in 2019.
The fight was promoted at a press conference.
The fighters allowed themselves a couple of attacks against each other, and then carried out an emotional heartdown. During the battle of views, Poirier called Makhachev the slang word “motherfucker” (does not need translation), to which he received a threat from Islam to slap him in the face for another similar address to the Dagestani.
No sensation. But so much fire! Wearing golden gloves, first used in the UFC in the main event of today's show, Poirier gave the fight to the favorite. Under the gaze of Donald Trump, who was sitting in the front row, with the support of his native audience (the chants of “USA! USA! USA!” and the approving roar clearly gave strength to Diamond), Dustin held his ground and looked great in the stand. Yes, in a couple of moments Dustin frankly survived (Makhachev could not finish the choke, he couldn’t finish his opponent even with a full mount), but he successfully got out of the Thai clinch and punched the body well.
The turning point could have happened in the fourth round, when a deep cut opened on Makhachev’s forehead, and for the rest of the time the blood filling his face interfered with his vision. Plus, fatigue took its toll: Islam stopped getting takedowns, which only benefited Poirier.
But the US representative was unable to take advantage of the Russian’s problems. In the final fifth five-minute round, Makhachev performed a desperate transfer and still forced Dustin to tap as a sign of surrender after strangulation through the arm – the guillotine, which was so “feared” of the champion, did not save the owner of the cage from the ninth defeat in his career.
Poirier – boundless respect! He was and remains a sports legend. Even though he lost three title fights and never became the undisputed UFC champion: in 2019 and 2021, he gave up after chokeholds from Khabib and Charles Oliveira in the third rounds. Today he almost made it to the judges' decision, but this was not enough…
The Diamond did not announce his retirement immediately after the defeat. Perhaps we will see the American grunt in the octagon again.
What awaits Makhachev next?
- For the champion, this victory was the 26th in professional MMA (an annoying one in the defeat column spoils the record).
- The Russian submitted to his third title defense. This is a repetition of the lightweight record.
- Makhachev is the first lightweight with a 13-match win streak in the up to 70 kilogram division.
- The overall winning streak of the number one P4P now totals 14 fights. The leader in this indicator is the famous Brazilian Anderson Silva with 16 triumphs in a row, Kamaru Usman stopped at 15. Behind him are such legends as Khabib, Georges St-Pierre, John Jones, Demetrious Johnson and Max Holloway (all with 13).
Next in line is Tsarukyan, who is eager to get even for the defeat five years ago in St. Petersburg. However, Islam himself is in no hurry to agree to a second fight with Arman – during an octagon interview, the triumphant again stated his desire to fight for a second belt:
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"This is my dream – I want to fight for a second belt. I want to feel this energy again, because when you defend an old belt, it's not the same. I need a new one. This is my dream.”
It should be noted that the UFC welterweight champion is the Briton Leon Edwards, who will defend his belt in a fight against Belal Muhammad in July. The same American of Palestinian origin who has trained with Makhachev more than once.
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