Preparing for their showdown at UFC 302, former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier had an intense stare down with the current titleholder, Islam Makhachev, during the official weigh-in event.
Poirier, ranked fourth in the lightweight division, is determined to break his streak of unsuccessful title challenges. He aims to overcome his previous losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.
Makhachev, currently holding the number one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings, is defending his title for the third time, facing a new lightweight contender for the first time after defeating Alexander Volkanovski in two consecutive bouts.
The tension between the two fighters escalated during a press conference the night before, where they traded verbal barbs and made predictions for their upcoming match in New Jersey. Security had to step in when Poirier used offensive language during the exchange.
Both fighters successfully made weight for the title fight earlier that day, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting battle.
During the ceremonial face-off, Poirier locked eyes with Makhachev, who remained composed as they sized each other up at the Prudential Center.
Expressing their readiness for the fight, Poirier emphasized the need to move past words and start the real action. Despite facing boos from the crowd, Makhachev vowed to showcase why he is considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.
With the fight drawing near, the big question looms: Will it be Islam Makhachev or Dustin Poirier who emerges victorious at UFC 302?
