Dustin Poirier has responded to a viral video featuring Islam Makhachev testing his punching prowess on an arcade machine, setting the stage for their showdown in the main event of UFC 302 on June 1 in Newark, New Jersey. This will mark Poirier’s third tilt at the UFC lightweight title, following previous encounters with Makhachev’s mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and former champ Charles Oliveira.
While there’s an underlying mutual respect between Poirier and Makhachev, the lead-up to UFC 302 has seen some psychological jousting. Makhachev has been vocal about his belief in an “easy fight” against Poirier in his next title defense, while Poirier has taken notice of Makhachev’s playful antics, particularly the punching machine video shared by his manager, Ali Abdelaziz.
Responding swiftly on Instagram, Poirier challenged Makhachev with a succinct message: “Watching that video of Islam on the punching machine. Pull up.”
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Poirier is entering the bout with considerable momentum, following a remarkable knockout victory over Benoît Saint-Denis at UFC 299, bouncing back from a previous loss to Justin Gaethje. Meanwhile, Makhachev clinched the UFC lightweight title with a submission win over Oliveira at UFC 280, and has since secured back-to-back victories over Alexander Volkanovski, including a knockout triumph at UFC 294.
As Poirier eyes what could potentially be his final shot at UFC gold before contemplating retirement, the upcoming clash with Makhachev looms large. While Makhachev’s striking prowess isn’t as renowned as his grappling, recent performances have showcased his evolving skill set, while Poirier’s boxing expertise combined with a well-rounded ground game promises an intriguing matchup.
With UFC 302 on the horizon, fight fans eagerly anticipate whether Poirier or Makhachev will emerge victorious in what promises to be one of the marquee bouts of the year.
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