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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier start time, main card, predictions, latest odds

Dustin Poirier is gearing up for what could tonight be his final UFC fight as he takes on lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.

‘The Diamond’ has hinted at retirement as he bids to become undisputed champion at the third - and potentially final – attempt.

Poirier held the interim lightweight strap in 2019 but was beaten by Khabib Nurmagomedov via submission before Charles Oliveira defeated him in a 2021 title bout.

Makhachev has since established himself as the promotion’s pound-for-pound king, beating Oliveira for the title in 2022 before retaining twice against Alexander Volkanovski in 2023.

The chief support of the evening sees Sean Strickland look to bounce back from his middleweight title defeat to Dricus Du Plessis in January as he takes on Paulo Costa.

(Getty Images)

UFC 302 date and venue

UFC takes place tonight, Saturday June 1, 2024 at the Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey.

UFC 302 start time

The early prelims are scheduled to start at 11.15pm UK time, before the regular prelims begin at 1am on the morning of Sunday, June 2 in the UK.

The main card is expected to start at 3am BST.

UFC 302 fight card

Main Card

Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier

Sean Strickland vs Paulo Costa

Kevin Holland vs Michal Oleksiejczuk

Niko Price vs Alex Morono

Randy Brown vs Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos

Prelims

Cesar Almeida vs Roman Kopylov

Jailton Almeida vs Alexandr Romanov

Grant Dawson vs Joe Solecki

Phil Rowe vs Jake Matthews

Early prelims

Ailin Perez vs Joselyne Edwards

Mitch Raposo vs Andre Lima

The UFC have introduced a new style of gloves (AFP via Getty Images)

New UFC gloves explained

The UFC have introduced a new style of gloves for fighters to wear to reduce eye pokes, cuts and hand injuries.

While the style remains fingerless, they have fewer seams on the outside to prevent cuts and abrasions, with new foam added to provide maximum flexibility and impact-absorbing protection.

Title bouts will see fighters were gold gloves and all other fighters will wear them in black.

Poirier has backed the idea, saying: "I think they're more comfortable, it's easier to make a fist.

"I do think there might be more cuts because the padding isn't as dense. I feel like the knuckles are gonna pierce through that padding.

Makhachev, however, expressed reservations.

“Honestly I don’t like too much because they become very old after I use them in two weeks.

"They feel a bit harder, but almost the same. But when you try to open your fingers it’s a little difficult. They keep your fingers closed a bit.”

How to watch UFC 302

TV channel: In the UK, UFC 302 is being shown live on TNT Sports 2, with coverage of the prelim fights beginning at 1am GMT.

Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also watch UFC 302 online via the Discovery+ website or app.

UFC 302 odds

Makhachev to win: 1/6

Poirier to win: 9/2

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