New Jersey’s UFC 302 is getting a pair of massive five-round fights, per UFC President and CEO Dana White, including Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier.
White made the announcement of that lightweight title fight, plus a five-round co-main event featuring middleweights Sean Strickland (28-6) and Paulo Costa (14-3), during his UFC 300 post-fight press conference appearance, with Cageside Press on hand.
Poirier (30-8, 1NC) has been rumored as being next in line for a title shot at 155 ever since his win over Benoit St-Denis at UFC 299 last month. White would admit that other names were in the running for the title shot, but ultimately, “The Diamond” got the nod.
Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa, a fight that popped up on social media a few days back, with ex-champ Strickland scoffing at the UFC’s initial offer for the bout, is not only a done deal, but a full five rounds. Strickland last competed in January, where he lost his 185lb title to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in Toronto.
Costa himself is coming off a loss to Robert Whittaker the following month at UFC 298.
Makhachev (25-1) was last in action at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, when he knocked out Alexander Volkanovski with a head kick to close out their rivalry.
UFC 302 takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on June 1, 2024.
