In a dramatic turn of events at UFC 302, Usman Nurmagomedov, the cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, was escorted out of the New Jersey arena, after jumping the barrier to celebrate with Islam Makhachev following his successful title defense.
Makhachev, the reigning lightweight champion, retained his belt with a dominant 5th-round submission of Dustin Poirier, earning a performance of the night bonus of $100,000. As soon as the referee stopped the action, Nurmagomedov, who was sitting cageside, jumped over the barrier to congratulate his training partner and friend.
However, his enthusiasm was short-lived, as security quickly intervened and escorted him out of the venue. According to eyewitnesses, Nurmagomedov was cooperative and left the arena without incident.
At UFC 302, Islam Makhachev retained his lightweight title by submitting Dustin Poirier with a d’arce choke in the fifth round. The fight, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was crucial for both fighters: Makhachev aimed to surpass Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC win record, while Poirier sought a final shot at the undisputed lightweight championship. The bout saw Makhachev dominate with early takedowns and ground control, though Poirier mounted a significant offensive in the later rounds, landing multiple body shots and defending several takedowns. Despite Poirier’s late surge, Makhachev’s superior grappling secured the victory at 2:42 of round five, marking his 14th consecutive UFC win.
Nurmagomedov’s actions, although well-intentioned, breached the arena’s security protocols, and he was forced to leave the premises. The incident did not detract from Makhachev’s triumphant celebration, as he was mobbed by his team and cornermen, including Nurmagomedov’s famous cousin, Khabib.
Makhachev’s victory marked his first successful title defense, and he cemented his position as one of the top pound-for-pound stars in the world.
While Usman Nurmagomedov’s exuberance led to his ejection from the venue, it was a small price to pay for being part of a historic night in the UFC. Makhachev’s title defense solidified his position as one of the sport’s top stars, and the evening will be remembered for its thrilling action and dramatic moments.
Islam Makhachev is just 10 steps ahead man
he was WAITING for Dustin to throw that punch pic.twitter.com/Fa7HB1yvAc
— OOC MMA (@oocmma) June 2, 2024
