Ufc 302 Makhachev vs Poirier

[SuperScript29]

GSP said a while ago that the best gameplan against those Dagestani guys is to not let them walk you down, and don't ever have your back against the fence, because the kind of takedowns they go for are a lot harder to get in the middle of the octagon. DP did an amazing job in this fight and he tried his best to keep in in the middle. He lost, but the man is a legend.

Islam might have looked human in this fight, but he's a great champion for overcoming these kind of fights. DP is a very hard opponent to beat when the fight turns into a war. I think Makhachev is gonna catch a whipping when he gets back to the gym by his coaches, and they're gonna make sure his next fight he comes out in better shape.

Arman is a good fighter, but I don't see him beating Islam outside a lucky KO punch.

 

[famicommander]

Haven't you heard from Uncle Chael that sambo isn't real?

Chael is an idiot, no surprise there. Living proof that being good at fighting doesn't mean you know what you're talking about.

Any martial art with continuous, high intensity sparring is "real".

Boxing
Kickboxing (Sanda, Muay Thai, Lethwei, full contact Karate, K1, Dutch Style, American Style, Shootboxing, Savate, etc)
Body control wrestling (freestyle, collegiate/American folk, Greco-Roman, Sumo, Judo, etc)
Submission grappling (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Sambo, Luta Livre, Catch Wrestling, etc)

They have different focuses and they may not all have equal applicability to an MMA fight, but too many MMA guys are tribalist morons about their base style or favored style. It matters less what name you give your training and more what you're actually doing. Styles that simulate a real fight (or a specific aspect of a real fight) in their training or competition formats tend to have a high success rate when translated to self defense or MMA. Boxing may be incomplete but try taking an overhand right and then saying it doesn't work. Judo may be less useful without the gi but dudes who practice throwing people all day are generally pretty good at throwing people regardless.

It's the styles that don't spar or compete at all, or do so in extremely limited circumstances (point fighting, excessive padding, etc) that aren't "real". And even that doesn't mean they're not worth practicing, it just means they're not actually teaching you to fight. You can still benefit from the exercise, discipline, community, history, etc.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Well that was the dullest card I've ever been too. Crowd was really into it early on and anytime there was a little excitement, as rare as it was, we were ready to go.

I have to rewatch the fight on tv cause you never get a good read in the crowd but I gotta say as great as Islam is I think Arman is feeling his confidence grow after watching that. Not saying he's gonna win I just think I expected a more dominant showing.

Other than that and holland politely asking Herb to stop the fight there wasn't much to write home about.

 

[Avs_19]

Terrible card.

I enjoyed the main event. Islam got bloodied up and wasn't his dominant self, which is a credit to Poirier, but overall I thought he looked good. He won a lot of those exchanges standing and the takedown and then sub to end the fight was so impressive. He should fight Arman next, not Leon.

Poirier had his moments too. You could tell he was somewhat limited compared to usual because he was so worried about the takedowns. He didn't incorporate kicks as much or really at all and wasn't as aggressive early on. I don't think that'll be it for him but if it is then all the best to him. One of the best to do it regardless of belts and he also just seems like one of the good people in the sport.

Co-main was horrendous. Marble mouth Strickland is one of the most boring good fighters out there. Don't give me the "Costa was just moving backwards" stuff. Costa was done after two rounds and was moving in slow motion after that. Strickland is under no obligation to turn it up and be more aggressive so he did what he needed to but it's awful to watch that style and it's entirely due to him, not his opponent. The judging was just as terrible as this fight so at least they kept it consistent. At best you can give Costa one round.

Props to Holland and Almeida for doing their part to add some excitement to this card. That arm bar was nasty.

 

[CDJ]

I think Leon beats Islam at 170.

I agree- but I will say Islam showed he won’t back down in the striking and tbh I think he got the better of Poirier in that department. I’m very interested in that fight.

Also idk if I already said it or not but Sean Strickland is the Jon Fitch of striking. That judge with the awful card said Strickland won round 5, which is hilarious because that’s the only round he arguably lost

 

[Chaels Arms]

I didn't mind Strickland v. Costa. Costa hits like a truck and Strickland was clearly having success doing exactly what he usually does so I don't blame him for continuing to do that. Costa is the guy who constantly disappoints. Another opponent (similar to Adesanya) who came into a fight with Strickland and was completely caught off guard when Strickland does the same thing he always does.

 

[1specter]

Dustin is an absolute warrior who left it all out there, and made it an interesting fight when many gave him no chance. Feel heartbroken for him but at least he put up a respectable performance. Islam is just too good on the ground and has quality striking himself, don't see anyone beating him for a while.

Well that was the dullest card I've ever been too. Crowd was really into it early on and anytime there was a little excitement, as rare as it was, we were ready to go.

I have to rewatch the fight on tv cause you never get a good read in the crowd but I gotta say as great as Islam is I think Arman is feeling his confidence grow after watching that. Not saying he's gonna win I just think I expected a more dominant showing.

Other than that and holland politely asking Herb to stop the fight there wasn't much to write home about.

I do wonder how much the rumored staph infection impacted Islam, he seemed like he was tiring a bit faster.

 

[ViD]

View attachment 878654

Is it the same guy who scored Costa 49-46?

Some of the scorecards were from the boxing world this time, absolutely ridiculous

 

[bov]

The judge in the Costa/Strickland fight needs to be made an example of. You cannot chalk that up to incompetence or being bad at your job. It's clearly beyond that, without a shadow of a doubt.

 

[Neutrinos]

Those gold gloves look goofy

It's the the red and the blue trim... they clash with the gold

Champion's gloves should be gold with black trim

Challenger's gloves should be silver with black trim

 

[Bunk Moreland]

It's the the red and the blue trim... they clash with the gold

Champion's gloves should be gold with black trim

Challenger's gloves should be silver with black trim

10000% I said the same thing that it's the colored tape that makes it look tacky. Not a bad idea with the different trim. Also the ufc logo peeled off of islams gloves by the end of the fight lol I don't think they were put together well.

Dustin is an absolute warrior who left it all out there, and made it an interesting fight when many gave him no chance. Feel heartbroken for him but at least he put up a respectable performance. Islam is just too good on the ground and has quality striking himself, don't see anyone beating him for a while.


I do wonder how much the rumored staph infection impacted Islam, he seemed like he was tiring a bit faster.

That weight cut for him gets me concerned sometimes too

 

[MMC]

They're wasting everyone's time with the LW division. Should've done Islam vs Gaethje at the beginning of the year like they wanted and just skipped this Poirier nonsense. Instead they completely derailed Gaethje for no reason, iced Islam for 8 months just to have him fight someone who isn't a real contender, and derailed another future contender (BSD) in the process. Awful stuff.

 

[pistolpete11]

People will focus on Islam's offensive wrestling, grappling, and even his striking, and rightfully so, but I think the part that gets overlooked a lot is his striking defense. Poirier had his moments, but outside of the elbow that cut him open, he never seemed to really land flush.

Islam-Arman is the fight to make. I'm fine with the double champ stuff, but only when a guy has reigned over a division for a while and/or there's not really any clear cut title challengers. Neither is the case here. Islam has beat 2 actual LW's at the title level and Arman-Charlie Olives was billed as a #1 contender's fight. WW is also starting to build a queue here with Belal, Shavkat, JDM, maybe Garry or MVP. Just stay in your division for a while, Islam.

I don't think Poirier is done, but if he is, what a legend. It's really unfortunate for him that 2 of his title shots came against Khabib and Islam who both could be all-timers (Khabib already is). And he was so close against Oliveira. Still, he's fought the who's who of the LW division, won more often than not, left it all out there every time, has a long list of incredible moments and fights, and (other than in this thread) nobody says a bad word about the guy.

C0-main event was awful. Strickland clearly won, but he was chasing Costa around most of the time. Could have done much more to cut him off and pieced him up, especially after the 2nd or so when Costa was starting to gas. I think Costa's power is overrated to begin with, but especially later in the fights. The judging was obviously awful. My only explanation is that he wrote the scores down on the wrong side.

I know intellectually that breaking an arm probably isn't even as bad as getting knocked out in the long run, but seeing that stuff makes my stomach turn more than 99% of the KO's I've seen. Just tap!

 

[CDJ]

I watched In a Violent Nature on Friday so the broken arm didn’t phase me

 

[I am not exposed]

They're wasting everyone's time with the LW division. Should've done Islam vs Gaethje at the beginning of the year like they wanted and just skipped this Poirier nonsense. Instead they completely derailed Gaethje for no reason, iced Islam for 8 months just to have him fight someone who isn't a real contender, and derailed another future contender (BSD) in the process. Awful stuff.

You should just ban yourself. BSD derailed himself by losing. Gaethje's track records in title fights isn't too hot either.

I'm not saying the lightweight picture is perfect, but it's a lot less messier than heavyweight and light heavyweight right now.

Islam-Arman is indeed the fight to make.

 

[MMC]

You should just ban yourself. BSD derailed himself by losing. Gaethje's track records in title fights isn't too hot either.

I'm not saying the lightweight picture is perfect, but it's a lot less messier than heavyweight and light heavyweight right now.

Islam-Arman is indeed the fight to make.

For wanting to see the champ fight actual contenders? Ok. This fight was made solely to not ice Islam for a year, and not based on any actual merit and that is no secret.

 

[I am not exposed]

View attachment 878650

First 4 rounds to Costa is crazy

Absolutely ridiculous. Especially as Costa's 5th round was his best and arguably the only one he actually won I guess he did some good damaging leg kicks in the 1st round.

For wanting to see the champ fight actual contenders? Ok. This fight was made solely to not ice Islam for a year, and not based on any actual merit and that is no secret.

Poirier is a contender. And a popular fighter so that is why he got the nod. He's a future hall of famer. I'm glad Islam fought someone (actual lightweight) than wait for Arman to be ready.

They actually offered it to Arman, but he turned it down due to short notice.

 

[MMC]

Poirier is a contender. And a popular fighter so that is why he got the nod. He's a future hall of famer. I'm glad Islam fought someone (actual lightweight) than wait for Arman to be ready.

They actually offered it to Arman, but he turned it down due to short notice.

Popular, yes, but his body of work did not warrant him getting another title shot. He was flatlined by the guy the UFC actually wanted to give the title shot to less than a year ago and then was getting steamrolled by BSD before he gassed.

 

[I am not exposed]

Popular, yes, but his body of work did not warrant him getting another title shot. He was flatlined by the guy the UFC actually wanted to give the title shot to less than a year ago and then was getting steamrolled by BSD before he gassed.

Better this fight than Islam just sitting out for even longer.

It's done now, and Islam will fight Arman next.

 

[MMC]

Better this fight than Islam just sitting out for even longer.

It's done now, and Islam will fight Arman next.

I mean yeah this take makes sense. Idk why you (or anyone else really) have to pretend this was done based on merit or that the UFC didn't matchmake horribly though. Everyone was saying months ago that the way they were doing this made no sense

 

[I am not exposed]

I mean yeah this take makes sense. Idk why you (or anyone else really) have to pretend this was done based on merit or that the UFC didn't matchmake horribly though. Everyone was saying months ago that the way they were doing this made no sense

I wasn't pretending...

And why on earth am I spending my Sunday afternoon debating with AI.....

 

[MMC]

I wasn't pretending...

And why on earth am I spending my Sunday afternoon debating with AI.....

I mean you responded to my original post acting like it was completely detached from reality so

 

[BGDDYKWL]

I know it was a boring fight so this won't be remembered with the others, but the 49-46 Costa card is one of the worst in the history of judging. Just indefensible.

I think a strong case could've been made for the main event being 2-2 going into the 5th, but I think two of three had it 3-1 (which is perfectly reasonable). Islam is very good, but the talk of him being Khabib with better striking is a bit much. He damn near lost to a 145er, and really struggled to take Poirier down as the fight progressed, and very possibly lost on the feet. He's excellent, don't get me wrong, but Khabib is in another league.

 

[BobColesNasalCavity]

Dustin Poirier broke nose, rib, tore ACL vs. Islam Makhachev​

Dustin Poirier is still deciding whether he will continue his MMA career following his fifth-round submission loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. But given his list of injuries suffered in a grueling lightweight championship fight, it appears that he'll be spending a decent amount of time on the mend.

"Nose is broken bad, rib is broken and my ACL is partially torn," Poirier revealed on X on Wednesday, chalking his injuries up to "Fight Life."

Although Poirier fell short in his third crack at undisputed UFC gold, he put forth a valiant effort and demonstrated exceptional resiliency in the face of adversity against the UFC's #1 pound-for-pound fighter. The 35-year-old survived multiple submission attempts, fought off a series of takedowns and battled for nearly 25 minutes before succumbing to a late D'arce choke in the final round.

Following the fight, Poirier told reporters that he "might have messed up" his ACL defending a takedown in the third or fourth round of the fight but fought through it. He also stated that his nose was "shattered" and later confirmed it on X with an x-ray of his nose and the caption "Nosey O'Donnell." Poirier said that an accidental headbutt caused the nose break in the fight.

As for the rib, Poirier's friend and coach Yves Edwards appeared on MMA Today and said that Poirier's preparations were limited heading into the fight as he was dealing with a rib injury during the final weeks of training. It's not known how serious the rib injury was and if it was exasperated during the fight.

Poirer received an indefinite suspension from the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board due to the severity of the knee and nose injuries. It is not known if he will need surgery or how long he will be sidelined.