UFC 302 live results: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier lightweight title fight

The UFC kicks off a busy five-event month of June with tonight’s UFC 302 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

In the main event, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, also the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, defends against former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier in a highly anticipated bout. Makhachev enters his third title defense on a 13-fight win streak, while Poirier looks to stamp a Hall of Fame career by becoming an undisputed UFC champion.

The co-main event will also be a five-round bout as former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland battles former title challenger Paulo Costa. Strickland returns for the first time since losing the his title to Dricus Du Plessis in January while Costa is also looking to get back into the win column.

The main card will featured a middleweight bout pitting Kevin Holland against Michal Oleksiejczuk, and a pair of welterweight fights as Niko Price takes on Alex Morono while Randy Brown fights Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.

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>Flyweights*- Mitch Raposo (9-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Andre Lima (8-0, 1-0 UFC)

*Lima missed weight by four pounds

Lima lands a leg kick before they start feeling each other out. Lima lands two more hard leg kicks. Raposo with a left hand. Lima with another leg kick and Raposo lands a couple of quick punches. Lima with two more leg kicks as he’s mixing which legs he attacks. Lima lands a knee up the middle to Raposo’s body then lands a leg kick. Lima with more leg kicks. Lima with another leg kick. He lands another that spins Raposo around. Raposo unable to connect much and Lima lands a hard body kick. Raposo lands a right hand. Lima with another leg kick then a high body kick. 10-9 Lima.

Lima pressing forward but misses a couple of kick attempts as Raposo misses a right hand. Lima with a high kick. They trade punches. Lima with a leg kick. Raposo with a right hand to the body. They trade and we have a timeout for an eye poke. They quickly get back to action and Raposo lands a left hook. Lima back to landing leg kicks. Lima with more leg kicks and there might have been another eye poke but timeout isn’t called. Raposo is able to get a takedown but Lima gets up, though he grabbed the fence. 10-9 Lima, 20-18 Lima.

Lima lands a leg kick. Raposo lands a straight right hand. Lima with a leg kick and Raposo lands a combo, but Lima was covering up. Lima with a hard body kick. Lima lands another body kick. Lima lands a stiff jab. Lima with a leg kick. Raposo lands a combination. Lima lands a leg kick. They trade punches. Lima with a leg kick and Raposo goes to the mat for a brief moment. They trade late. 10-9 Lima, 30-27 Lima.

Official Result- Andre Lima def. Mitch Raposo by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

>Women’s Bantamweights- Ailin Perez (9-2, 2-1 UFC) vs. Joselyne Edwards (13-5, 4-3 UFC)

They trade kicks and Perez looks for a takedown but they clinch against the fence. Edwards with a knee to the body and Perez is able to get a headlock takedown. They get to their feet and Perez lands a knee on the way up. Perez gets it back down. Edwards reverses and sweeps to the top. Perez reverses back to the top and then they start rolling and reversing before Perez ends up back on top. They get to their feet but Perez is able to get it back down. Perez with an elbow from the top. Edwards reverses back to the top. 10-9 Perez.

They trade to start. Perez looks for a takedown but Edwards grabs the neck. She looks for a guillotine choke but uses it as defense to end up on top on the ground. Edwards lands to the body. Edwards with a headbutt from the top and there is a timeout. They get back to action and Perez drops Edwards with a spinning back fist. Edwards gets up and they clinch. Perez gets a takedown and looks for an armbar but Edwards escapes and ends up on top inside the guard of Perez. Edwards ends the round on top. 10-9 Perez, 20-18 Perez.

Edwards lands a body kick. Edwards lands a right hand and they clinch. They’re battling for position against the fence. Perez gets a takedown but they get right to their feet and separate. Perez with a leg kick and Edwards lands an uppercut to the body. They trade leg kicks and Perez gets a late takedown. 10-9 Perez, 30-27 Perez.

Official Result- Ailin Perez def. Joselyne Edwards by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

>Welterweights- Mickey Gall (7-5, 6-5 UFC) vs. Bassil Hafez (8-4-1, 0-1 UFC)

Hafez lands a right hand. Hafez with a leg kick. Gall lands a left hand. Hafez lands an overhand right. Hafez lands a big right hand and follows with a left hook. Hafez with another right hand. Gall with a right hand to the body. Gall lands a jab. Hafez with a jab and a left hook followed by a right hand. Hafez with a left hook and leg kick. Hafez with a combination. Gall tags Hafez with a right hand. Gall lands a combo after Hafez taunts him. 10-9 Hafez.

Gall lands a jab. Hafez with a right hand. Gall lands a right hand. Gall with a body kick. Hafez clips Gall with a left hand and Gall is circling around. Hafez with a high kick. They both miss on winding punches. They trade right hands. Gall lands a right hand to the body followed by a jab. Gall scores a brief takedown before Hafez scrambles up. Gall lands a double jab then a big right hand. Hafez gets a late takedown but stands right up and lands two leg kicks. Close round. 10-9 Gall, 19-19.

Hafez lands a jab. Hafez with a right hand. Gall lands two right hands as Hafez misses a spinning back fist. Gall lands a big combination ending with a hard right hand. Hafez lands a big right hand. Hafez hurts Gall with a punch. Gall then drops Hafez with a right hand but he gets right up. Gall gets a takedown. They get right up. Hafez with a left hook. They trade hard punches. Hafez goes for a takedown and Gall has the neck but Hafez completes the takedown and is on top. They stand and Gall hurts Hafez with two big right hands. They trade and Gall lands some big right hands. Hafez gets a takedown. They get to their feet and trade big punches. Fun fight. 10-9 Gall, 29-28 Gall.

Official Result- Bassil Hafez def. Mickey Gall by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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>Welterweights- Phil Rowe (10-4, 3-2 UFC) vs. Jake Matthews (19-7, 12-7 UFC)

Matthews with some early leg kicks and lands a pair of right hands. They trade against the fence. Rowe lands a right hand and a leg kick. Matthews with a jab then a leg kick. Rowe lands a right hand. They trade against the fence and Matthews lands a big left hook. Rowe with a body kick. Matthews lands a combo. Rowe lands to the body. Rowe with a jab. There’s a timeout for a groin strike. They get back to action and Matthews lands a combo. Rowe lands a knee and eats a big right hand from Matthews. Rowe slips to the mat and Matthews gets on top and lands before ending the round there. 10-9 Matthews.

Matthews lands a leg kick. He lands another after some short punches. Matthews lands a flurry while they were tied up and Rowe is hurt. Rowe lands a jab and a right hand as he has recovered. They trade in close range. Rowe with a leg kick. Matthews lands a pair of right hands. Rowe lands a knee after Matthews lands inside the pocket. Matthews with a jab. Matthews works to the body and Rowe lands a right hand. Matthews with a left hook. 10-9 Matthews, 20-18 Matthews.

Both throwing and Rowe shoots for a takedown but Matthews defends and gets his own takedown. Rowe is able to reverse to the top. Both are battling for position on the mat. Rowe looking to take the back but Matthews escapes and is in side control on top. Matthews gets the mount and is landing and threatened with an arm-triangle choke attempt. Matthews gets back to the half-guard. They try to scramble at the end. 10-9 Matthews, 30-27 Matthews.

Official Result- Jake Matthews def. Phil Rowe by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

>Lightweights- Grant Dawson (20-2-1, 8-1-1 UFC) vs. Joe Solecki (13-4, 5-2 UFC)

Dawson gets an immediate takedown. Solecki has neck control and is looking for a guillotine choke. Dawson is trying to roll out but it is in tight. Dawson is able to pop his head out. Dawson controlling from the top. There isn’t much action happening on the mat as Dawson is looking to establish top control. Dawson lands some punches. Solecki cuts Dawson open with an elbow from the bottom but Dawson still in full control on top. Dawson with more punches from the top. 10-9 Dawson.

They trade to start the second. Dawson gets Solecki to the fence and scores a takedown. Dawson in control from the top and landing as he’s bleeding all over Solecki. Solecki is doing nothing from the bottom as Dawson is in total control. Dawson with big shots from the top. Dawson with more big ground and pound from the top. 10-9 Dawson, 20-18 Dawson.

There’s an immediate groin strike on Dawson but they get right back to action. Dawson backs Solecki up to the fence and gets a takedown. Dawson controlling from the top and landing as he has Solecki pinned down. Dawson continuing to land from the top and this is a boring fight as he was in complete control. 10-9 Dawson, 30-27 Dawson.

Official Result- Grant Dawson def. Joe Solecki by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

>Heavyweights- #7 Jailton Almeida (20-3, 6-1 UFC) vs. #13 Alexandr Romanov (16-2, 5-2 UFC)

Romanov with a leg kick and Almeida scores a takedown. Almeida works to the back and looks for a rear-naked choke. He looks to have it in and Romanov taps! Almeida gets the first finish on the night as he bounces back into the win column.

Official Result- Jailton Almeida def. Alexandr Romanov by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:27 of Round 1

>Middleweights- Cesar Almeida (5-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Roman Kopylov (12-3, 4-3 UFC)

They trade kicks to start. Kopylov lands a pair of jabs followed by a left hand. Almeida with a leg kick. Almeida lands a jab. Almeida with a pair of leg kicks. Kopylov puts Almeida down with a takedown but lets him right up. Kopylov lands a massive left hand. Almeida lands a body kick and a right hand. Kopylov scores with a kick to the body then gets a takedown. They get up and Kopylov lands a pair of right hands as they break. Almeida lands a leg kick. Kopylov drops Almeida with a left hand and starts landing hammerfists before standing and Almeida is ordered to his feet. Almeida lands two kicks before Kopylov gets another takedown right into side control. 10-9 Kopylov.

They trade kicks. Almeida lands a few kicks. Almeida lands a left hand. Kopylov looks for a takedown but Almeida defends and lands to the body. Kopylov with a combination. Kopylov looking for a takedown but Almeida defending as he is pushed to the fence. They separate. Kopylov lands some punches. They tie up and Almeida lands some dirty boxing before pushing away. Kopylov gets a takedown and is in side control. Kopylov inside the guard of Almeida and controlling. Both with short punches. 10-9 Kopylov, 20-18 Kopylov.

Almeida lands a leg kick. Kopylov with a high kick and a left hand. Almeida lands a knee in a tie-up. Kopylov with a left hand then a jab before he gets a takedown. Kopylov landing from the top as Herb Dean is warning them to work. Almeida with an elbow from the bottom. They are stood up by Herb Dean. Kopylov with a body kick. Almeida lands a right hand and Kopylov is able to get another takedown. Kopylov stands and gets back into side control. 10-9 Kopylov, 30-27 Kopylov.

Official Result- Roman Kopylov def. Cesar Almeida by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

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>Welterweights- Randy Brown (18-5, 12-5 UFC) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (24-7-1, 10-3-1 UFC)

They trade leg kicks. Brown with a leg kick then a right hand. Brown lands a body kick and Zaleski counters with a leg kick. Brown lands a jab. Brown with a leg kick. We have a timeout for an eye poke and the referee gave Zaleski no time to recover. Brown poked Zaleski in the eye again and the referee said to just fight. Brown now landing at will. Zaleski starts just throwing and gets Brown to the mat for a brief moment. Brown with a side kick. Zaleski lands a leg kick. Zaleski with a spin kick to the body. Brown lands a massive knee late. 10-9 Brown.

Zaleski lands a big right hand and tries to land a flurry and grabs Brown against the fence. Zaleski drags Brown to the mat and has the back. Zaleski keeping control from the back and is working for a choke. He has an arm under the chin and Zaleski is squeezing. It is above the chin but Zaleski is still squeezing. Brown with some back punches. Zaleski lets go but is trying to readjust. Zaleski with some punches from the back. Brown is able to spin out and takes Zaleski’s back. Brown with some punches and he looks for a choke but Zaleski is out of it. Brown with an elbow as he mounts a late comeback. 10-9 Zaleski, 19-19.

Zaleski with a leg kick. There is another timeout for an eye poke by Brown. They get back to action and Brown lands a jab. Zaleski with a pair of leg kicks and just misses a wheel kick. They both land leg kicks and Brown just grazes with an uppercut. Brown lands a big knee and it opened a big cut on Zaleski. Brown with a stiff jab and Zaleski looks for a takedown. Brown defending and lands an elbow. Brown with some short uppercuts. They separate. Brown lands a right hand and Zaleski grabs the back and scores a takedown. Zaleski looks for a choke but not much time is left. Brown with some left hands. 10-9 Brown, 29-28 Brown.

Official Result- Randy Brown def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

>Welterweights- Niko Price (15-7 2 NC, 7-7 2 NC UFC) vs. Alex Morono (24-9 1 NC, 13-6 1 NC UFC)

They trade jabs. Price lands a jab. Morono with a leg kick. Morono lands a right hand. He lands another. Morono lands a leg kick and Price lands a right hand as Morono was tripped up and fell to the mat. Morono has Price is a crucifix type position and they scramble to their feet. Morono jumps on the back of Price and drags it down. Price reverses to the top and they stand. Morono lands a pair of right hands. Price with a leg kick. Morono lands a spin kick then a combination. Morono working the jab and lands a right hand. Price with a knee. 10-9 Morono.

Both are throwing wildly and neither landing until Price connects with a right hand. Morono then lands a right hand. They’re both landing punches but neither is pulling ahead. Morono lands a solid right hand. Price stuns Morono with a right hand and then scores a takedown. Price lands from the top. Morono tries to reverse and get to the feet but Price remains on top and continues to land some hammerfists. They get to their feet. Price lands a back elbow. Price looks for a takedown but Morono drops down with the neck controlled. Price ends the round with some elbows. 10-9 Price, 19-19.

Price landing to start the third. Morono lands a right hand. Price with a right hand. Price lands an inside leg kick. Both throwing sloppy strikes and not really landing. Morono lands a jab. Price landing more but this is really sloppy. Price then lands a big uppercut and gets an easy takedown. They get to their feet. Morono lands a right hand but he is completely gassed out. Price lands a body kick then a right hand. Price landing a flurry late as he scores with a right hand. 10-9 Price, 29-28 Price.

Official Result- Niko Price def. Alex Morono by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

>Middleweights- #15 WW Kevin Holland (25-11 1 NC, 12-8 1 NC UFC) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-7 1 NC, 7-5 1 NC UFC)

Oleksiejczuk lands a left hand. They trade right hands. Oleksiejczuk drops Holland with a left hand while Holland was throwing a kick. Holland looks for an armbar as Oleksiejczuk gets on top. It is in deep and Holland is cranking. Holland has it in tight and Oleksiejczuk’s arm snaps. He doesn’t tap but Herb Dean finally stops it.

Official Result- Kevin Holland def. Michal Oleksiejczuk by submission (armbar) at 1:34 of Round 1

>Middleweights- #1 Sean Strickland (28-6, 15-6 UFC) vs. #7 Paulo Costa (14-3, 6-3 UFC)

Costa with a leg kick and then another. He lands another. Strickland marching forward throwing small front kicks but Costa is still tagging him. Costa with a left hook and lands a leg kick. Strickland’s lead leg is already red. Strickland has landed a lot to the body. Costa with a leg kick. Strickland with more pressure as he keeps throwing front teet kicks to the body. Costa lands a body kick and Strickland grabs the leg and lands a right hand. Costa was off balance and went to the mat but got right up. Strickland continuing to pressure with front kicks. Close round. 10-9 Strickland.

Costa with a leg kick. Strickland pressuring still with front kicks. Costa with a hard leg kick. He lands two more leg kicks. Strickland with a jab and a right hand. Costa with a leg kick. Strickland still pressuring with teet kicks. Costa with a hard leg kick. Costa with a wheel kick. Costa lands then Strickland lands and Costa slips to the mat for a second. Costa with a leg kick. 10-9 Strickland, 20-18 Strickland.

Costa with a jab to the body. They trade leg kicks. Costa with a left hand to the body then a front kick to the body. Strickland with a combination. Costa lands a leg kick that was checked by Strickland. Strickland lands a combination. Costa lands a right hand. Costa with a leg kick and Strickland lands a right hand. Strickland continuing to land with more volume and lands a big uppercut late. 10-9 Strickland, 30-27 Strickland.

Strickland with some kicks as he is pressing forward. Costa lands a leg kick and his leg is hurt from them being checked by Strickland. Strickland coming forward and landing front kicks. Costa with a left hook to the body and they trade front kicks to the body. Costa with some body and leg kicks. Costa lands another kick. Costa with a body punch and a leg kick then a jab. Costa with another leg kick. Strickland with a flurry in close range. 10-9 Strickland, 40-36 Strickland.

Costa with a jab to the body. Costa with a leg kick then a right hand. Costa with a leg kick then a body kick and Strickland lands a right hand. Costa trying to keep Strickland at distance with some front kicks. Strickland lands a jab. Costa lands a jab. Strickland with some jabs then a right hand. Strickland with a flurry and drops Costa with a head kick late and then lands another head kick with a strong close to the round. 10-9 Strickland, 50-45 Strickland.

Official Result- Sean Strickland def. Paulo Costa by split decision (46-49, 50-45, 49-46)

>UFC Lightweight Championship- C Islam Makhachev (25-1, 14-1 UFC) vs. #3 Dustin Poirier (30-8 1 NC, 22-7 1 NC UFC)

Poirier lands a jab. Makhachev lands and shoots for a takedown and gets Poirier down to the mat. Makhachev controlling from the top. He looks for a kimura but Poirier rolls out. Makhachev is able to get the back of Poirier. Makhachev with a punch from the back as he is covering Poirier’s mouth. Makhachev trying to find the choke but Poirier showing great defense. Poirier with a few back punches. Poirier survives the round. 10-9 Makhachev.

Poirier with a leg kick. Makhachev goes right for the takedown but Poirier is able to stay on his feet as they separate. Makhachev lands a knee. Makhachev shoots for a takedown but Poirier slips away. Poirier lands a jab. Makhachev with a jab. Makhachev pushes Poirier against the fence looking for a takedown. Poirier reverses position. Poirier with an uppercut as they’re clinched and he lands to the body before they break. They clinch and Poirier lands a right hand. Poirier with a left hand. They trade and clinch. Makhachev looking for the takedown and gets it late as he ends the round on top. 10-9 Makhachev, 20-18 Makhachev.

Makhachev lands a knee as both threw punches. Makhachev lands another knee as they clinch and Makhachev pushes it to the fence. Makhachev gets it down and has the back of Poirier. Makhachev moves to the mount and is looking to trap an arm. Poirier slips under and gets to his feet. Poirier lands a jab. Makhachev lands a combo. Both are landing. Poirier lands a jab. Both land late. 10-9 Makhachev, 30-27 Makhachev.

Makhachev lands a right hand to the body. They trade to the head and Poirier lands to the body. Poirier stuffs a takedown attempt from Makhachev. Poirier lands a jab. Poirier stuffs another takedown attempt. Makhachev with a pair of right hands. Makhachev lands a left hand. Makhachev drags Poirier down after they clinch and Makhachev has the back as they’re on the knees. Poirier switches and gets out and starts landing against the fence. Poirier with a flurry to the body. Makhachev is cut open but lands an uppercut. Makhachev with a combo. Makhachev shoots for a takedown and Poirier is defending by landing. Poirier had the neck late. 10-9 Poirier, 39-37 Makhachev.

Poirier lands a jab. Makhachev with a combo. Poirier with a calf kick. Makhachev tries for a takedown but Poirier defends and lands as they break. Poirier lands to the body. Poirier lands a big left hand. Makhachev tries for a takedown and they scramble ad Makhachev looks for the neck. Makhachev looking for a D’Arce choke. Poirier taps! Makhachev gets the late submission to retain the title.

Official Result- Islam Makhachev def. Dustin Poirier by submission (D’Arce choke) at 2:42 of Round 5 to retain the UFC Lightweight Championship