Cultural differences ALMOST caused chaos at UFC 302 face-off between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier

Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier went from esteemed adversaries to fierce rivals during the UFC 302 press conference face-off. From the start, both started to talk trash lightly. It almost entered a chaotic stage when Poirier called Makhachev a ‘motherf**ker’, and Makhachev took it in the literal sense. It has gone viral on social media and increased the anticipation for the lightweight title showdown.

UFC 302 marks Makhachev’s third title defense when he faces challenger Dustin Poirier. The heated but bizarre face-to-face exchange had Makhachev visibly angry at Poirier. Now, longtime manager and Dominant MMA CEO Ali Abdelaziz gives the scoop on what went wrong with the 32-year-old reigning lightweight.

Honestly, I think it was a misunderstanding…He said something — everybody comes from different cultures and he said something accepted in American culture, …it’s OK to drop the MF word. But with Muslim guys or Russian guys, you can’t say the MF word…Because this is almost talking about his mother. We know in America you can say the MF word and it’s OK, it’s whatever.
Ali Abdelaziz to MMAFighting on SBN after UFC 302 pre-fight Media Day scrum

As much as Poirier’s tone and language irked Makhachev then, Abdelaziz promises there’s no bad blood. His mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, was a surprise addition to the UFC 302 pre-fight camp. Khabib defeated ‘The Diamond’ via Round 3 submission (RNC) at UFC 242 and has a substantial history. As such, Team Khabib has planned something special for Makhachev to finish Poirier in the upcoming clash.

Good or bad, Abdelaziz also indicated that the overwhelming betting favorite, Makhachev, would disassiminate the opponent. Speaking to Grind City Media, he even said the lightweight could beat current boxing heavyweights in his standing. Boxers are one thing; diamond-sharp strikers are another. Come this Saturday; it’s anybody’s guess as to who wins.

UFC 302 weigh-in: Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier all set for clash

All but one fighter made weight at Friday’s official UFC 302 Ceremonial fighter weigh-ins. The early weigh-ins occurred at the UFC Host Hotel in Jersey City, N.J. The Tri-State Area’s crown jewel (Diamond, in this case), Poirier, was first to the scales and weighed in exactly at 155 on the nose.

Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev (Source: IMAGO)

Islam Makhachev followed suit, but after two fighters, to avoid confrontations. He, too, successfully weighed in at 155 pounds. He and Dustin Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) meet at the tail-end of the PPV event.

The fight promises a historic encounter. Makhachev will attempt to tie the all-time UFC record for most consecutive title defenses in the lightweight division. On the other hand, Poirier remains one of the most decorated fighters on the roster. All that remains for him is the undisputed belt.