UFC 302: Fun storylines, must-see fights and … curses?

After a rare weekend off, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will hold its sixth pay-per-view (PPV) show at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. UFC 302′The main event, Islam Makhachev his lightweight Octagon Legends and Titles Dustin Poirierformer Middleweight Ruler of the roost, Sean Strickland,undertake Paulo Costa A co-starring work.

UFC 302 is not a super strong PPV (Thanks to UFC 300), there are some fun matches across the card and the atmosphere is awesome. ESPN+ Ahead of the PPV, UFC 302, let’s check out some storylines, trivia and stats…

“Brick City”

UFC returns to Newark, New Jersey this weekend for the 10th time – last year the promotion held a PPV in the “Brick City.” UFC 288among them Aljamain Sterling defeat Henry Cejudo By split decision.

The first real defense

Makhachev will make the third defense of his lightweight championship on Saturday, finally facing someone in his own weight class. The first two defenses Former 145-pound champion and pound-for-pound leader Alexander Volkanovski (a Featherweight).

A title defense is a title defense, but Makhachev will eventually have to make a true 155-pound defense in the “Garden State.”

‘The Eagle Has Flying

Khabib Nurmagomedov He’ll be in Makhachev’s corner at UFC 302. The retired former lightweight champion missed Makhachev’s last title defense against the aforementioned Volkanovski at UFC 294, but returned to help Makhachev defeat “The Diamond.”

last chance?

Poirier will challenge for the lightweight championship for the third time at UFC 302, but it will likely be his final chance to compete for the title. He is winless (0-2) in lightweight title bouts.He was submitted to both), but a lightweight title win over Makhachev would cement “The Diamond” as one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time.

retirement?

Poirier had hinted at the possibility of retiring after his last few fights, but before this Saturday’s main event heI took the topic of retirement seriously.Especially since he has nothing to prove other than winning a title.

And UFC commentator, Daniel Cormier, I don’t like it at all.

“I hate the idea that it could be over any minute, and I know he knows that,” Cormier said. “I hate it when athletes criticize me for something I’ve done.”

Is being over 35 a curse?

UFC champions under 170 pounds and over the age of 35 have a record of 2 wins and 22 losses in the last 31 years. The only UFC champion to overcome the “curse of 35” is Tyron Woodley … And he did it twice.

Can Poirier break the curse?

Costa’s Curse!

UFC 302 actually comes with two mixed martial arts (MMA) curses. Get ready: Every UFC champion who competed on the same card as Costa lost their title.

Activities

Costa has averaged just one fight per year over the past six years, often sitting out a match. But believe it or not, Costa is active now! The Brazilian will compete in two matches this year for the first time since going undefeated (3-0) in 2017, with three fights and three finishes.

rebound

Strickland will be competing this weekend in his first bout since losing the middleweight title to Dorricus du Plessis earlier this year, and he’ll be hoping to regain the 185-pound crown.

Number one candidate?

Strickland vs. Costa could be a high-stakes fight. UFC CEO Dana White Announced Khamzat Chimaev versus Robert WhittakerThe WBA World Heavyweight Championship bout to be held in Saudi Arabia on June 22, 2024 is the No. 1 favorite to win, but if Strickland wins in a dominant fashion, he could overtake the champion.

meanwhile, Drix du Plessis versus Israel Adesanya Scheduled date and time UFC 305 The bout took place in Perth, Australia, and Strickland clearly has experience facing both men: he beat Adesanya for the title, before losing a very close split decision to du Plessis.

Five Round, Baby

UFC 302’s meaningful co-main event is scheduled for five, five-minute rounds.

Middleweight “Big Mouth”

After eight matches Welterweight, Kevin Holland Coming off a two-fight losing streak, he returns to the middleweight division, where he has had more success, though thankfully, it’s not a permanent move. It was a sudden opportunity to fight.He is Polish Michal Oleksiejchuk On the PPV main card.

rematch!

Nike Prices and Alex Morono They will meet again this weekend at UFC 302. The welterweights previously competed in the 2017 UFC Fight Night 104: “Bermudez vs. Korean Zombie” Price knocked out Morono in the second round, but the result was overturned after Price failed a post-fight drug test (marijuana).

Since their first bout, both fighters have had ups and downs in their careers. Price is on a two-fight losing streak, while Morono Court McGhee.

Past opponents

Strickland, a former middleweight champion, has lost just twice in his 34-fight career. Alex Pereira and Elizeu Zaleski dos SantosThe latter will face a burgeoning welterweight contender on the PPV main card. Randy Browndos Santos The game ended in a draw. Rinat FakretdinovHowever, they are on a two-game winning streak.

Welcome to UFC!

Only one fighter will be making his UFC debut this weekend.

Mitch Raposo (9-1) is Andre Lima (Bitten Combatant). Raposo Contender Series and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) A veteran with four wins (all by finish) on the regional stage, he earned a coveted shot at the UFC.

Raposo boasts a 77 percent finishing rate with four knockouts and three submissions.

A big step up

Former Glory kickboxer Pre-UFCPoitan Slayer, Cesar Almeida This weekend he will make his second trip to the Octagon. Dylan Booker Octagon debut (View highlightsAlemida has fallen from Budka to the fringes of the top 15 in middleweight. Roman Kopylovwas defeated by Anthony Hernandez … This is a big step up in competition.

This fight should definitely be a blast, as both fighters are aggressive strikers and won’t be looking to go for takedowns.

Heavyweight Grappling Showcase

On the “Prelims” undercard of UFC 302, Heavyweight Ranked 7th as a grappler Jailton Almeida Challenging for 13th place Alexander Romanov.

There’s always the chance that the fight between the two fighters could turn into a striking match, but hopefully we’ll see these two giant heavyweights show off their fighting skills.

This was Almeida’s first loss in UFC. Curtis BlaydesOn the other hand, Romanov Blagoy Ivanov.

Back to the qualifiers, Bud.

Grant Dawson He headlined the last UFC event but was knocked out in 33 seconds. Bobby Greenhe will head back to the “qualifying rounds”.

Dawson tries to get back on track Joe Solecki.

Welcome back, Mickey

Mickey Gall This weekend, he returns after a 25-month break. His last opponent was Mike MarotteHe was knocked out in the first round. After the fight, there were reports that he had been fired from the promotion, but that wasn’t true; he had simply asked for time off.

Gall has lost two straight fights and is currently 6-5 in the UFC. Bashir Hafez.

Already 1-0

Gul and Hafez actually have a history together, as Hafez defeated Gul in a grappling tournament in 2013, bringing their record to 1-0. CM Punk Slayer.

Will he win 2-0?

Bad Blood

Kudos to the UFC for stoking the excitement Jocelyn Edwards versus Ailyn Perez Because there are some serious bad feelings involved in this fight.

Back in November 2023 — Previous UFC Vegas 82 — Perez and Edwards got into a fight at the UFC Performance Institute, where Edwards left Perez with a black eye and Perez’s coach then choked Edwards unconscious.Read more).

UFC 302 Fight Leader

Coming into UFC 302, the fighter with the most career bouts is Poirier (38).

UFC 302 Fight Rookie

The fighter with the fewest fights entering UFC 302 is Almeida (5).

UFC 302 Knockout King

Among the fighters competing at UFC 302, Poirier (16) has the most career knockouts.

UFC 302 Submission Masters

Of all the fighters competing at UFC 302, Dawson (13) has the most career submissions.

Winners and Losers

Nine fighters won, 14 lost, and one drew (Dos Santos).

Multiple divisions

The categories on display this Saturday are:

• 1 Heavyweight bout
• Three middleweight bouts
• Four welterweights
• Two lightweight bouts
• One Flyweight Fight
• for women Bantamweight Fight

Beta Dog

according to DraftKingsPoirier is the “biggest” underdog at UFC 302 +470.

For complete results coverage of UFC 302, here.