Makhachev predicts submission victory over Dustin Poirier in UFC 302 Lightweight Title Main Event fight.

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev predicts he will defeat title challenger Dustin Poirier via submission in the "second or third round" at UFC 302 on Saturday.

The Russian, who is on a 13 fight-win-streak, will look for his fourth consecutive victory as lightweight champion against the Louisiana native and former champion Poirier.

Makhachev comes into the contest after back-to-back wins over former featherweight and lightweight champion Alexander Volkanowski in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

"Dustin always fights the same style, good boxing, good hands, but my style is worse for him," Makhachev told TNT Sports.

"I can make this fight easy. I know his good points, I know his weaknesses. If I stay still he can catch me, but I'm going to move. I'm going to wrestle. I'm going to strike him. This will be my best performance.

"I will finish Poirier in the second or third round by submission. He will tap.

"I am not the best boxer in this game. I'm not the best grappler in this game. I am the best MMA fighter. It's a combination - striking, boxing, grappling, wrestling, I am the best in the world right now."

Poirier famously lost his lightweight title via submission to close friend and coach of Makhacehv, Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019. Five years on, Makhachev hinted that Khabib may be in his corner of the Octogon on Saturday.

"I've spent my whole life with Khabib in training camp. When he was fighting and in camp, I was with him. Now it is me in fighting camp and he is with me.

"He is a great fighter and a good coach with lots of experience, I love when he is with us.

"I don't know if he will be in my corner yet. Maybe, maybe. It's better when he is in the corner because he always gives good advice."

"I am happy when people talk about me like I am Khabib's protege or his student because he is a great man. He is a good example for all fighters, he doesn't use bad words, he's never done any bad things like drugs. Nothing. He is a good person to follow."

Makhachev vs Poirier headlines a stacked card of fighting at UFC 302, with Sean Strickland facing Paulo Costa in the co-main event.

Live coverage from New Jersey begins at 1am UK time on Sunday, June 2 on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.

Live coverage of the prelims starts at 1am on Sunday, June 2, with the main card following at 3am.

The early prelims kick off at 11:15pm on Saturday night, and can be seen on UFC Fight Pass.

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