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Video – Islam Makhachev smashes punching machine with massive power ahead of UFC 302 return fight

Islam Makhachev showed off his striking power as he hit the punching machine ahead of his UFC 302 title…

Islam Makhachev showed off his striking power as he hit the punching machine ahead of his UFC 302 title defense against Dustin Poirier.

Although Makhachev is known for his wrestling and strength on the ground, he also has power in his hands and feet, as we saw against Alexander Volkanovski.

Ahead of his upcoming fight, Islam Makhachev hit a punching machine and it was impressive, as he finished with a score of 973, which was impressive for a lightweight.

It was impressive from Makhachev as he showed off his striking power, which fans don’t get to see all that often in his fights.

Islam Makhachev calls Dustin Poirier an easy fight

Heading into his UFC 302 title defense, Islam Makhachev is a sizeable betting favorite to defeat Dustin Poirier.

Not only does Makhachev expect to beat Poirier to defend his belt, but he says he will make it look easy as he calls Poirier an easy fight.

“Dustin, he is a warrior, legend – he has more than everybody experience in this sport,” Islam Makhachev told TMZ. “But his problem is his style. That’s the one problem this guy has. His weak point is wrestling and grappling, and I have the key for the easy fight. And if I follow the plan, I can beat him easy. My style and Khabib’s style, it’s worst style for Dustin. People who can can take him down, hold him there, it always gives him problems.”

“Dustin is a good opponent because Oliveira, Arman, I beat these guys already,” Makhachev added. “My dream fight for this division is Gaethje, but he lose already. Right now in our weight, we just have Dustin because Arman said no, Oliveira lose, Gaethje lose. We don’t have someone.”

If Makhachev does beat Poirier with ease, it’s uncertain who will be next for him.

Sean Strickland nearly fought Khamzat Chimaev in Saudi Arabia before booking Paulo Costa fight at UFC 302

Before Sean Strickland booked his June 1 clash with Paulo Costa, the UFC was looking to book a bout…

Before Sean Strickland booked his June 1 clash with Paulo Costa, the UFC was looking to book a bout between the former middleweight world champion and undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev.

Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, told James Lynch during a recent interview that the promotion was targeting a fight between the two at UFC Saudi Arabia on June 22 before pivoting to Costa. According to Nicksick, the fight was scrapped due to travel-related issues on Strickland’s side.

“I know they [UFC] were hoping for maybe Khamzat, but I don’t think Sean can travel to Saudi Arabia or something; I’m not 100% sure,” Nicksick said. “But I know Khamzat’s name was possibly kicked around. Khamzat is going to be a big draw in Saudi, and that fight is more about location than it was about the opponent, in my opinion” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Instead, Khamzat Chimaev will face Robert Whittaker when the UFC makes its promotional debut inside Kingdom Arena in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh next month.

Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa Desperately Seeking a Win at UFC 302

Three weeks before ‘Borz’ steps back inside the Octagon, UFC 302 will emanate from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey with a one-two punch of can’t-miss fights — chief among them being a massive lightweight world title headliner pitting reigning and defending 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev against division staple Dustin Poirier.

In the co-main event, fans will see Sean Strickland look to bounce back after surrendering the middleweight strap to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January. Standing in Strickland’s way of a return to the win column will be Paulo Costa, a Brazilian star determined to climb his way back into the title picture after falling short against Robert Whittaker in February.

Costa’s last win inside the Octagon came in August 2022 during an oddly entertaining scrap with another former 185-pound titleholder, Luke Rockhold.

Dustin Poirier questions if Islam Makhachev underestimates him pre-UFC 302: ‘I can finish anybody in the world’

Ahead of next month’s title showdown with undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier has…

Ahead of next month’s title showdown with undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier has questioned if the defending gold holder is actually underestimating the challenge he presents ahead of their UFC 302 clash.

Poirier, a former interim lightweight titleholder and the current number three ranked contender, is slated to return next month in New Jersey, taking on Russian force, Makhachev in an undisputed lightweight title clash.

Returning to the winner’s enclosure at UFC 299 back in March, Lafayette native, Poirier most recently turned in a second round knockout win over Benoit Saint Denis, rallying to land a stoppage victory over the Nimes native.

As for Makhachev, the pound-for-pound number one will feature for the first time since he turned in a first round high-kick and strikes knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 back in October in the pair’s rematch.

Dustin Poirier reacts to Islam Makhachev's title fight call joke I've done more in the sport than him — Mandatory Credit: Megan Briggs

Dustin Poirier questions Islam Makhachev’s mindset pre-UFC 302

And taking on Makhachev next month in Newark, Poirier, who has admittedly weighed up a retirement from the sport – win or lose against the Russian standout, questioned first and foremost, if he’s being underestimated.

Islam Makhachev set to fight twice this year ahead of expected UFC return — Mandatory Credit: Giuseppe Cacece

“I haven’t been keeping up a whole lot but when I was at the gym, Mike Brown told me, ‘Man, i think this guy (Islam Makhachev) may be underestimating your Jiu-Jitsu and underestimating how dangerous you are.’” Dustin Poirier told MMA Fighting. “I think what he was referring to was an interview with Islam saying, ‘This is an easy fight for me.’ I was tagged in a bunch of stuff on Instagram and Twitter of him saying that.”

“And I don’t know, maybe he goes about all fights like that, but I can finish and beat anybody at 155 pounds in the world,” Dustin Poirier explained. “I really believe that. And he doesn’t have to believe it. I’m the one who has to believe it and go out there and beat his a**. I can do that.”

Who wins at UFC 302 next month: Islam Makhachev or Dustin Poirier?

UFC 302’s Dustin Poirier believes Islam Makhachev’s fight game has surpassed that of Khabib Nurmagomedov

Dustin Poirier believes that reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is better both on the ground and on the…

Dustin Poirier believes that reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is better both on the ground and on the feet than his mentor, Khabib Numragomedov.

On Saturday, June 1, ‘The Diamond’ will return to the Octagon for what could very well be the final fight of his illustrious combat sports career. Headlining the promotion’s return to the Prudential Cente in Newark, New Jersey, ‘The Diamond’ will challenge Makhachev for the 155-pound crown in the UFC 302 main event.

With their highly anticipated scrap a few short weeks away, Poirier joined Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour to break down his fight with the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ and the differences he sees between Makhachev and former lightweight titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“I think [Islam’s] submission game, jiu-jitsu wise, is a little more versatile than Khabib,” Poirier said. “Khabib had some chokes that he did really well, but Islam’s putting himself in, you could say bad positions, going for armbars. Maybe he loses a position but he trusts his wrestling to get it back.

“I think [Islam] is a little bit more of a threat jiu-jitsu wise and scrambles, but I think his striking’s better than Khabib’s.”

Dustin Poirier knows a thing or two about what it’s like being inside the Octagon with Nurmagomedov. The two went toe-to-toe for the lightweight title nearly five years ago at UFC 242. While ‘The Diamond’ hung in there longer than most, he would eventually submit to ‘The Eagle’ via a third-round rear-naked choke.

Dustin Poirier reacts to Islam makhachev calling him an ‘easy fight’

Going 2-2 in his last four fights, Dustin Poirier’s journey to a third lightweight title opportunity was more a matter of circumstance than anything else. Still, it would be foolish to count out ‘The Diamond’ inside the Octagon. Unfortunately, that appears to be exactly what Islam Makhachev has already done.

During a recent interview with TMZ, Makhachev said: “I have the key for the easy fight. And if I follow the plan, I can beat him easy.”

Reacting to the notion that he’s an “easy fight” for the Dagestani, Poirier warned Makhachev of what happens when you underestimate one of the UFC’s most explosive strikers.

“I hadn’t been keeping up a whole lot but when I was at the gym, Mike Brown, he said ‘Man, this guy might be underestimating your jiu-jitsu and underestimating how dangerous you are.’ I think what he is referring to is an interview of Islam saying this is an easy fight for me,” Poirier said. “I was tagged in a bunch of stuff on Instagram and Twitter, that is where I see a lot of the info of him saying that.

“I don’t know, maybe he goes about all fights like this. But, I can finish and beat anybody at 155 lbs in the world, I really believe that. He doesn’t have to believe it, I am the one who has to believe it and I’m the one who has to go out there and beat his ass, and I can do that” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Dustin Poirier reveals his struggles with mental health ahead of lightweight title fight at UFC 302

Set to make his 30th walk to the Octagon on June 1, few fighters boast the kind of resume…

Set to make his 30th walk to the Octagon on June 1, few fighters boast the kind of resume that Dustin Poirier has amassed after more than two decades in the sport.

He’ll attempt to “finish his story” when he headlines UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey as he steps into the main event spotlight for a lightweight world title clash with reigning and defending champion Islam Makhachev.

Win or lose, this could very well be Poirier’s last stand after spending years sacrificing not just his body, but his mind.

During an appearance on The Fight Bananas Show, ‘The Diamond’ shared some insight into the mental challenges he’s faced since his brutal second-round knockout at the hands of Justin Gaethje last year.

“First of all, head trauma is not good for you – that’s a big part of it,” said the fan-favorite lightweight, explaining how people are quick to forget about career-defining achievements once you suffer a defeat in the UFC Octagon.

“I’ve given this sport so much, not only physically but with my time and focus. Being a fighter, you have to focus on you [but] I want to be with my family, focus on my daughter, my wife, my foundation, my businesses… A lot of stuff gets put on hold to chase dreams.”

“Putting so much into a result or outcome and then your life’s kind of revolving around that night – it feels like everything you’ve done in your whole career; people look at you on that single night performance and forget about everything else, all the mountains you’ve already climbed” (h/t Bloody Elbow).

Dustin Poirier is mentally prepared for whatever happens at UFC 303

Poirier went on to add that while mixed martial arts is an undeniably physical sport, there is a strong mental health aspect of it that often gets overlooked by fans and pundits.

“We focus so much on the physical part of this [sport] but fighting is so mental [and] fighting is just a portion of our life — we have a whole other life after fighting and outside of fighting. I was just down on myself, but focusing on my mindset, talking to people, having my wife by my side, having good friends back home, I went to counseling weekly.”

Already feeling like a much different person following his sequel scrap with Gaethje, Poirier hopes that he can implement some of the lessons he’s learned when he steps into the cage with the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ next month.

“Even coming into this fight here on June 1, I’m trying not to put so much — of course, I want to be world champion, but nothing is guaranteed…I do feel honestly that I’m going to be world champion in a month [and] words become things. But I have to be content with whatever happens because that’s just how life goes.”

Dustin Poirier unsure of retirement ahead of UFC 302 fight with Islam Makhachev: ‘It could be my last one’

Booked to headline UFC 302 at the start of next month in an undisputed lightweight title clash, Dustin Poirier…

Booked to headline UFC 302 at the start of next month in an undisputed lightweight title clash, Dustin Poirier admits he could potentially call time on his storied mixed martial arts career – event should he topple Islam Makhachev in New Jersey.

Poirier, the current number three ranked lightweight contender and a former interim division champion, is slated to return next month at UFC 302 in Newark, headlining the pay-per-view card in a showdown with incumbent pound-for-pound number one, Makhachev.

Dustin Poirier takes issue with Joe Rogan's commentary after UFC 299 win I can't believe he said that — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

Earning a third shot at undisputed 155lbs spoils at UFC 299 back in March, Lafayette native, Poirier rallied to turn in a stunning second round KO win over French contender, Benoit Saint Denis, snapping the emerging force’s winning run.

Dustin Poirier questions Benoit Saint Denis over staph infection you don't say something like that when you lose — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

As for Makhachev, the Russian headlined UFC 294 back in October of last year against former featherweight gold holder, Alexander Volkanovski, ending their two-fight series with a blistering first round high-kick and strikes knockout win.

Dustin Poirier weighs up retirement ahead of UFC 302

And linked with a potential retirement ahead of his UFC 299 fight with Saint Denis, ahead of his lightweight title fight return, Poirier, 35, admitted he could call time on his story even if he lands an underdog title win over Makhachev.

“It could be [my last fight],” Dustin Poirier told Fight Bananas during a recent interview. “I haven’t made an official decision yet, but it could be. I’ve said it over and over again, I still have a lot of tread on the tires. I can beat these young guys, I just did it.”

Dustin Poirier was asked if he would retire with a win over Islam Makhachev at #UFC302

"It could be [my last fight]. I haven't made an official decision yet, but it could be.

I've said this over and over again, I still have a lot of tread on the tires. I can beat these young… pic.twitter.com/LBvr5XkwQ3

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 2, 2024

“It’s just like, how much do I want to give to this sport?” Dustin Poirier continued. “Because, you don’t ride for free. I don’t wanna make any decisions just off of the way I’m feeling. I need to go out there and fight, like I said in Miami.”

Who wins at UFC 302 next month: Islam Makhachev or Dustin Poirier?