UFC 302 results, highlights: Islam Makhachev scores late submission of Dustin Poirier to retain title

Makhachev tied the record for UFC lightweight title defenses, joining mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov and other greats

Dustin Poirier was the sentimental favorite and betting underdog against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. Poirier defied expectations with a valiant effort but Makhachev ultimately shattered his dream of a storybook ending by scoring a D'Arce choke in the fifth round to submit "The Diamond" and retain his title.

Makhachev tied the UFC lightweight title defense record (3) in a fight that demanded everything of both fighters. Makhachev's takedown threat and ever-improving striking busted Poirier's nose and swelled his eyes. Poirier's improved grappling defense gave him room to slice Makhachev wide open with an elbow.

"He defended my takedowns and gave me a hard time," Makhachev said during his post-fight interview. "He's a champion and a legend of the sport. Thank you, Dustin."

Poirier looked to cap off an all-time feel good moment by finally becoming undisputed champion in his 40th professional fight. Porier -- who previously lost undisputed title fights to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Olivera -- told CBS Sports this was his last chance at accomplishing that goal. 

"I know I can compete with the best of these guys, but if I fight again what am I fighting for? Just to fight again? I've done that 50 times," Poirier said post-fight. "I don't know. I have a little girl that I love. I honestly think this might be it."

Poirier did not announce his retirement post-fight but left fans with a final message, just in case, dedicated to his late grandmother, mother, wife and daughter.

"If this is my last fight, I wanted to dedicate this journey to the people who made me the man I am," Poirier said. "To the women in my life."

"Always chase your dreams," Poirier told his daughter. "It's a beautiful thing."

Makhachev expressed his intention to challenge for the UFC welterweight title. The belt is currently held by Leon Edwards who defends it against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304.

"It's my dream," Makhachev said. "I want to fight for the second belt. I want to feel that energy again. When you defend your belt, it doesn't feel the same. I need a new one!"

Makhachev tied BJ Penn, Benson Henderson, Frankie Edgar and Nurmagomedov with his third successful title defense.

Elsewhere on the card, Sean Strickland kept himself in title contention with a win over Paulo Costa in the co-main event. Strickland controlled the entirety of the fight and the split-decision distinction is a bit misleading. The former champion called for a title shot next after not getting an immediate rematch with Dricus du Plessis after his loss in January. Plus, Kevin Holland is back to doing Kevin Holland things as the veteran submitted Michal Oleksiejczuk with an armbar that appeared to snap his opponent's arm. 

CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC 302 below.

UFC 302 card, results

• Islam Makhachev (c) def. Dustin Poirier via fifth-round submission (D'Arce choke)
  
• Sean Strickland def. Paulo Costa via split decision (46-49, 50-45, 49-46)
• Kevin Holland def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via first-round submission (armbar)
• Niko Price def. Alex Morono via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Randy Brown def. Elizeu Zaleski via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Roman Kopylov def. Cesar Almeida via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
• Jailton Almeida def. Alexandr Romanov via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
• Grant Dawson def. Joe Solecki via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jake Matthews def. Phil Rowe via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Bassil Hafez def. Mickey Gall via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  
• Ailin Perez def. Joselyne Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Andre Lima def. Mitch Raposo via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

*five-round co-main event.

[Jun 2, 2024 at 1:10 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier -- Round 5: Early trading on the feet that favored Makhachev before a Poirier calf kick. Makhachev shot for a single-leg but Poirier escaped. Poirier dug in with a good body shot. Poirier fired a jab and talked a bit of trash to Makhachev. Poirier connected with a hard left hand as blood streamed down Makhachev's face. Makhachev shot for a takedown and managed to grab a foot to finish the takedown and start to work the guillotine. Makhachev switched to a d'arce and choked Poirier for the finish. Official result: Islam Makhachev def. Dustin Porier via submission, Round 5.

[Jun 2, 2024 at 1:06 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier -- Round 4: Poirier got the fight he wanted early, standing with Makhachev and trading strikes. Makhachev landed some solid jabs before two good right hands. Poirier fired back with body shots before a hard left from Makhachev. Makhachev followed that punch into a double-leg takedown attempt. Makhachev swithched to a single and took Poirier down, with Poirier telling his corner he hurt his leg in the process. Poirier continued to try to fend off Makhachev's attempt to take his back again. Poirier pulled off a switch to get back to standing and fired a series of shots to the body. Somewhere along the line, Makhachev suffered a cut on his forehead. Both men landed some good punches and Makhachev tried for another takedown. Poirier defended and threatened a late choke. That was a very close round but Makhachev may have edged it. Unofficial scorecard: Makhachev 10-9 (39-37)

[Jun 2, 2024 at 12:59 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier -- Round 3: Makhachev started to work the clinch and landed a few knees before grabbing a body lock and taking the back as Poirier tried to escape. Poirier was bleeding from the nose with Makhachev on the back on the ground. Poirier was forced to again fend off attempts at rear-naked chokes before Makhachev moved to full mount. Poirier kicked off the cage and escaped an armbar attempt before getting back to standing. Poirier started getting a bit looser in the stand up but Makhachev landed some simple combinations that left Poirier blinking away the effects. Still, Makhachev's dominant position likely took the round. Unofficial scorecard: Makhachev 10-9 (29-28)

[Jun 2, 2024 at 12:53 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier -- Round 2: Makhachev went for the takedown immediately but Poirier managed to get his legs free and remain in the stand-up. Poirier again was able to fend off the takedown but ate two uppercuts from Makhachev. Poirier landed a few good jabs but wasn't yet able to unload with power shots that would change the complexion of the fight on the feet. Makhachev shot for another takedown, this time forcing Poirier back into the cage but Poirier defended and reversed position, turning Makhachev's back into the cage. Poirier landed a glancing left hook and a body shot after. Makhachev fired back and scored a takedown with 10 seconds left in the round but Poirier did the better work in the round. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Poirier (19-19)

[Jun 2, 2024 at 12:47 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier -- Round 1: It took almost no time for Makhachev to score a takedown, circling as Poirier tried to pop the jab and establish his striking. More important than that, Makhachev landed a combination in the stand up before getting inside and taking Poirier to the canvas. Working out of half guard, Makhachev worked some ground and pound. Poirier tried to scramble but that resulted on Makhachev taking the back and sinking in a body triangle to establish control of Poirier's body. Poirier threw punches back at Makhachev, which somehow caused a cut over Makhachev's left eye. Makhachev didn't quite do enough with his positioning to earn a 10-8. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Makhachev

[Jun 2, 2024 at 12:23 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

It's 12:30 a.m. ET and all that remains is the main event. Islam Makhachev defends his UFC lightweight championship against Dustin Poirier. A Makhachev victory ties him with BJ Penn, Frankie Edgar, Benson Henderson and Khabib Nurmagomedov for all-time UFC lightweight title defenses (3). Poirier looks to finally become undisputed champion after two failed attempts in he is calling his last chance to do so.

[Jun 2, 2024 at 12:21 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Official result: Sean Strickland def. Paulo Costa via split decision (50-45, 46-49, 49-46).

[Jun 2, 2024 at 12:18 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa -- Round 5: Costa is throwing harder this round. Strickland's team calls for more activity but Costa continues to throw with more power. Costa is quadrupling Strickland in strikes this round at the halfway mark. Strickland continues to walk down Costa without landing much. Costa throws punches to the body. A nice jab by Strickland. Costa with a crisp jab followed by a left hook to the body. Both men continue to throw strikes but nothing is landing with impact. Costa lands a huge right hand which Strickland answers with a combination. Strickland chases Costa and drops him with a head kick. Strickland throwing all kinds of ridiculous jumping kicks to the end the round. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Strickland (50-45 overall for Strickland).

[Jun 2, 2024 at 12:12 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa -- Round 4: Costa goes back to the leg kicks. Strickland eases off the pressure this round. Costa's doing more damage to himself with those kicks now that Strickland is checking them. Each man lands a front kick to the body. Strickland continues to employ front kicks. Costa with a jab to the body and a hard straight up top. Strickland is outlanding Costa to the head, body and legs. Costa lands a nice sidekick to the body. A pair of jabs by Strickland. Costa lands a hard shot to the body. The crowd is starting to boo. A great low kick by Costa. Strickland starts advancing. Strickland throws a combination by Costa blocks it. Strickland nearly doubled Costa in strikes this round but Costa landed the more impactful blows. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Strickland (40-36 overall for Strickland).

[Jun 2, 2024 at 12:05 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa -- Round 3: Strickland checks a leg kick. Costa sticks a jab to the body. A hard left hook to the body by Costa. Costa is holding his ground a little bit better this round. Strickland blitzes and hits Costa with a one-two that has Costa covering up. Strickland checked a leg kick that really bothered Costa. Strickland more than doubling Costa in strikes this round. Costa lands a nasty one-two, his best combination of the fight, but Strickland leaned his head back to diffuse the power. Costa landed a right hook but not a ton of sauce on it. Strickland with an uppercut to close the round. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Strickland (30-27 overall for Strickland).

[Jun 1, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa -- Round 2: Strickland continues to employ lots of front kicks to the body. Strickland checks one leg kick but eats another. A nice left-hand by Costa. Both men have landed most of their strikes to the body, Costa's body punches and Strickland's front kicks. Costa lands a nasty leg kick that bothers Strickland.  Costa continues to jab to the body. Strickland with a night straight to the head. Strickland continues to apply pressure while doing a better job of cutting off the cage. Strickland is also doing a better job of checking leg kicks. The strike totals are about dead even. Costa busts out the spinning wheel kick that nearly stopped Whittaker but Strickland blocks it. Strickland catches costa with a jab that puts him off balance. Costa is struggling with the pressure. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Strickland (20-18 Strickland overall).