Former UFC Lightweight champion Charles Oliveira predicts that Islam Makhachev will win the lightweight title against Dustin Poirier in UFC 302.
The main event of UFC 302 on Saturday features Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier, and Oliveira does not think “The Diamond” will prevail in a five-round match. Since switching to lightweight in 2015, Poirier has only suffered four defeats, three of which came in title fights against Justin Gaethje (for the BMF title), Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Oliveira.
Before their tantalizing matchup this weekend, former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira thinks Islam Makhachev will be too much for Dustin Poirier.
Poirier enters the match fresh off a thrilling knockout victory over Benoit Saint-Denis in March. The American appeared exhausted and was about to lose to the rising competitor again.
Dustin Poirier Chances Of Defeating Islam Makhachev
Oliveira has personal experience with Islam Makhachev’s wrestling; in October 2022, Makhachev submitted him in the second round, costing him the lightweight title. But ‘Do Bronx’ isn’t writing Poirier off just yet. Oliveira highlighted Makhachev’s power,
“Every striker that faces Islam is going to be the same thing, [Islam] will take you down and have bigger chances at winning…
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But we’re talking about MMA, and one hand, one strike that lands can definitely get you the victory… [Poirier] has heavy hands and hits hard, so he definitely can knock him out, but I think Islam remains as champion.”
At UFC 300 in April, Oliveira lost to Arman Tsarukyan via razor-thin split decision. The next chance to earn the lightweight belt was assured to the contest winner.
If Olivera’s forecast is correct, Islam Makhachev’s next opponent will be Tsarukyan, who declined the opportunity to challenge for the title this coming weekend.
Also Read: Islam Makhachev Names as the Best Grappler at 135LBS – “He Can Beat Everybody”
