UFC 302 headliner Islam Makhachev made a statement when he last appeared inside the Octagon.
The UFC lightweight champion will feature in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card in Newark, New Jersey, where he’s tasked with recording a third successful title retention at the expense of divisional veteran Dustin Poirier.
Following his crowning against Charles Oliveira back in 2022, Makhachev put the belt on the line against the same foe twice in 2023, repelling the threat of then-featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski.
Their first clash in Perth, Australia, was a tight affair, with many even believing “Alexander the Great” did enough to deserve two-division glory. There was no debate, however, when it came to their rematch.
Following the late withdrawal of Oliveira, Volkanovski stepped up on a few days’ notice and headed to Abu Dhabi to do battle with Makhachev again at UFC 294 last October.
The champ closed out proceedings in the first round, flooring the Aussie with a vicious head kick before swarming with an onslaught of ground-and-pound for the knockout finish.
Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Makhachev vs. Volkanovski rematch from UFC 294 on its official YouTube channel.
The Russian will be looking to deliver a similarly impactful performance when he takes to the cage inside the Prudential Center this weekend.
If he achieves that feat, Makhachev will have gotten past the first challenge to his reign to come from an established contender at 155 pounds. And from there, the likes of Arman Tsarukyan will be waiting in the wings.
