Everyone thought they knew how Newark would go. The script was written. Islam Makhachev was supposed to steamroll through a "retired in spirit" Dustin Poirier, and the UFC 302 fight card would just be another notch on the Dagestani belt.
But fights aren't fought on paper.
If you actually watched the main event on June 1, 2024, you saw something much messier. You saw a champion bleeding from a gash between his eyes, looking human for the first time in years. You saw "The Diamond" refusing to let his story end in the first round, even when he was stuck under the suffocating pressure that has broken everyone from Oliveira to Volkanovski.
By the time the dust settled at the Prudential Center, we had a Gate of over $7.2 million and a crowd of 17,834 people who realized that the UFC 302 fight card wasn't just a lopsided title defense—it was a grit-check for the entire lightweight division.
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The Main Event: More Than Just a D'Arce Choke
People keep talking about the finish. Sure, the D'Arce choke at 2:42 of the fifth round was beautiful. It was technical. It was inevitable. But the real story of the main event was the four rounds that preceded it.
Islam Makhachev is usually a ghost. You can't hit him. He takes you down, he drowns you, and he leaves. But Poirier made him box. Dustin landed crisp shots that actually had Islam retreating. Honestly, there were moments in the fourth round where you could hear a pin drop in the arena because it felt like the upset was actually happening.
- Islam Makhachev proved he has a chin and a gas tank that lasts until the final whistle.
- Dustin Poirier showed that even at 35, his "dog" is bigger than most 25-year-olds in the sport.
Makhachev didn't just win a fight; he surpassed Khabib Nurmagomedov’s winning streak, hitting 14 straight victories. That’s insane. We’re talking about a level of consistency that basically doesn't exist in modern MMA. Yet, he left the cage looking like he’d been in a car wreck. That's the Poirier effect.
Sean Strickland and the Art of the "Boring" Masterclass
The co-main event featured Sean Strickland against Paulo Costa. If you like high-octane, back-and-forth wars, this... probably wasn't for you.
Strickland does this thing where he just walks you down. He doesn't throw haymakers. He doesn't do spinning backflicks. He just jabs. And jabs. And checks your leg kicks. It’s infuriating for his opponents and, frankly, sorta polarizing for the fans.
Costa spent most of the five rounds retreating. He looked out of ideas. Strickland’s "Philly Shell" defense was so tight that Costa’s power shots were mostly hitting elbows and shoulders. The judges turned in a split decision—46-49, 50-45, 49-46—which is wild considering how much Strickland controlled the pace. One judge actually gave it to Costa, which had the internet in a total meltdown for about 48 hours.
Why Kevin Holland Stole the Show
If we’re being real, the most "UFC" moment of the night happened further down the UFC 302 fight card. Kevin Holland was facing Michal Oleksiejczuk.
Holland is a weird guy. He talks during fights. He takes short-notice bouts. He oscillates between looking like a future champion and looking like he’d rather be at a comedy club. This time, he was a predator.
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He locked in an armbar so deep it made everyone in the front row wince. Oleksiejczuk didn't tap. He’s tough, maybe too tough for his own good. The referee had to step in because the arm was clearly compromised. It was a technical submission at 1:34 of the first round. Holland got a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, and he deserved every cent.
The Gritty Undercard: Decisions, Decisions
The prelims were a bit of a slog, let's be honest. Six out of seven fights went to the judges. That usually kills the vibe of a live event, but a few stood out.
- Jailton Almeida was the lone finisher on the prelims. He ran through Alexandr Romanov like he wasn't even there. Rear-naked choke in the first round. It was a "get right" fight for Almeida after he got embarrassed by Curtis Blaydes earlier in the year.
- Randy Brown looked incredibly sharp against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. He used his length, landed a flying knee, and kept his winning streak alive. He’s been calling for a Top 15 opponent for a year now, and after this performance, the UFC can't really ignore him anymore.
- Niko Price vs. Alex Morono was a rematch that went exactly how Price needed it to. He snapped a losing streak and showed that "The Hybrid" still has some miles left in the tank.
What Most People Get Wrong About UFC 302
The biggest misconception is that this was a "weak" card because it lacked a dozen superstars.
That’s a casual take.
The UFC 302 fight card was a technical showcase. It showed the evolution of the lightweight king. It proved that Sean Strickland’s style—no matter how much people complain—is statistically one of the hardest puzzles to solve in the middleweight division.
It also introduced the new UFC gloves. Remember those? The "Gold" gloves for title fights and the 3EIGHT/5EIGHT designs. People were worried they’d reduce finishes or change the grappling. While we saw a lot of decisions, the main event proved that if you're elite at subbing people, the equipment doesn't matter.
Actionable Insights for the Next Event
If you're looking at the fallout of this card to predict what's coming next in the UFC, here’s what you need to track:
- Watch the 170lb move: Makhachev is openly talking about moving up to welterweight. He wants a second belt. Given how he handled Poirier’s power, he’s a legitimate threat to anyone at 170.
- The Strickland Title Path: Love him or hate him, Sean is right back in the mix. He’s going to hold out for a title shot or a massive #1 contender fight. Don't expect him to take a "fun" fight next.
- The Poirier Retirement Watch: Dustin left his gloves in the cage, then took them back, then hinted at retirement on social media. He's at a crossroads. If he comes back, it’s only for a "legacy" fight, not a ranking climb.
The UFC 302 fight card reminded us that the "favorites" can still be pushed to the brink. It wasn't the cleanest night of fights, but it was one of the most honest.
Check the official UFC rankings next Tuesday to see where Randy Brown and Jailton Almeida land. Their movement will dictate the matchmaking for the rest of the summer. Follow the medical suspensions too; Makhachev's eye injury might keep him out longer than the UFC wants if they’re planning a quick turnaround for a Madison Square Garden return.
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Final Results Summary Table for Quick Reference
| Bout | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier | Makhachev | Submission (D'Arce) | 5 |
| Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa | Strickland | Decision (Split) | 5 |
| Kevin Holland vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk | Holland | Technical Submission | 1 |
| Niko Price vs. Alex Morono | Price | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 |
| Randy Brown vs. E. Zaleski dos Santos | Brown | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 |
| Jailton Almeida vs. Alexandr Romanov | Almeida | Submission (RNC) | 1 |
Keep an eye on the lightweight landscape. With Arman Tsarukyan looming as the mandatory challenger, Makhachev's reign is about to get even more difficult. The era of Dagestani dominance is still here, but the gap is closing, one bloody nose at a time.