Makhachev Admits Poirier Fight Was a Street Brawl

Islam Makhachev has faced some of the very best the UFC has to offer, but there is one fight he still loves to rewatch.

His fight with Dustin Poirier.

The two met at UFC 302 in June 2024.

Islam Makhachev had a tough time as Dustin Poirier put up a great fight and made him work hard for the win.

Makhachev explained the reason the fight is still his favorite during an interview with Red Corner MMA.

"The fight I keep rewatching is the Poirier fight. We fought like it was a street fight," Islam told Red Corner MMA.

"And I was able to get rid of him. That fight was fun for me. Poirier did not make it easy on himself."

Poirier Did Not Make It Easy for Him

Islam Makhachev battled Dustin Poirier for the UFC Lightweight Championship on June 1, 2024.

Poirier wanted to win the championship without a question for the first time, while Makhachev wanted another successful defense.

Things got even worse for Makhachev when Poirier landed an elbow to his forehead and cut him wide open.

Clearly the winner would not have an easy victory.

He kept fighting.

The Diamond did not give Makhachev a lot of time to get into a rhythm.

Makhachev Found the Finish in Round Five

By the time the fight reached the final round, both men had been hurt.

Finally Makhachev was able to take Poirier back to the mat.

He switched positions, and locked in the D'Arce choke, after trying for the guillotine choke.

Poirier tried to escape but failed and tapped at 2 minutes and 42 seconds of round five.

It was a huge win for Makhachev, who made his third successful lightweight title defense.

Again, Poirier was close to winning the title but failed to do so.

A Fight He Still Enjoys Watching

Makhachev has beaten several big names during his UFC career, but his choice says a lot about his recollection of the Poirier fight.

It was not a walk in the park, not like he was in the driver's seat from the start.

Poirier kept him working right to the very end, pushing him and landing some big shots.

That is probably why he remembers the battle so well.

Makhachev had to work a lot for the result he wanted.

While Poirier lost that night, it was one of the toughest fights of his career against the champ.

What Makes This Admission Significant

Makhachev is known for his dominant, methodical style.

He has finished Charles Oliveira, submitted Alexander Volkanovski twice, and controlled top contenders with relentless pressure.

But when asked which fight he goes back to watch, he picks the one where he got cut, pushed to the limit, and forced to dig deep.

"We fought like it was a street fight" is not a typical quote from a champion who rarely acknowledges vulnerability.

It suggests that Makhachev values the chaos and the test of will more than the clean, one-sided performances.

Poirier, a former interim champion and one of the most durable lightweights in history, brought out something different in Makhachev.

That fight is now remembered as one of the best title bouts of 2024.

Context Around the Fight

UFC 302 took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Poirier entered the fight on a two-fight win streak, having knocked out Benoit Saint-Denis and submitted BSD.

It was Poirier's third attempt to win the undisputed UFC lightweight championship, after previous losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.

Makhachev was riding a 13-fight win streak, with his only UFC loss coming in his debut.

The fight was closely contested on the feet, with Poirier landing significant strikes and bloodying the champion.

Makhachev's grappling advantage ultimately proved decisive in the championship rounds.

The finish came with just over two minutes left in the fifth and final round.

What Comes Next for Makhachev

Since the Poirier fight, Makhachev has continued to defend his lightweight title.

He submitted Renato Moicano in January 2025 and defeated Arman Tsarukyan by decision in April 2025.

More recently, Makhachev moved up to welterweight and captured the 170-pound title by defeating Ian Machado Garry in Philadelphia.