After a week off, the UFC opens the month of June with a 12-fight card known as UFC 302, headlined by a lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier in the main event.
Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is making his third defense of his lightweight strap but his first against a true lightweight contender. Makhachev won the title against then-champion Charles Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC, 1 NC) at UFC 280 in Oct. 2022 before he was thrust into back-to-back fights with then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC).
Makhachev would win both fights. The first came at UFC 284 in Volkanovski's home country of Australia. The fight was a razor-close split decision that went Makhachev's way, leaving many fans and MMA pundits wondering what a rematch would look like.
WATCH: UFC 302: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier, exclusively on ESPN+
That question would be answered in Oct. 2023 when Volkanovski replaced Oliveira ahead of UFC 294 on less than two weeks' notice. Makhachev needed less than a round to dispatch Volkanovski and successfully defend his belt again.
Due to a loss from Justin Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) in the final seconds against Max Holloway (28-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) at UFC 300, the UFC opted to give Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) his third crack at claiming lightweight gold despite his 2-2 record across his last four outings, most recently knocking out Benoit Saint-Denis (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) at UFC 299. Gaethje had previously knocked out Poirier at UFC 291 to win his then-'BMF' title, but it wasn't enough for another title fight opportunity.
Poirier has been open about the possibility of retirement in several pre-fight interviews, a decision that could significantly alter the landscape of the lightweight division. However, no hasty choices have been made, leaving fans and pundits alike in suspense.
The card also features a stellar co-main event between Sean Strickland (28-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC), the former UFC middleweight champion, taking on Paulo Costa (14-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC), and many notable undercard bouts.
Here is everything you need to know about UFC 302, including TV and streaming options for the event and the entire bout order ahead of Saturday night.
What time is UFC 302 on today? Schedule & more for Makhachev vs. Poirier
- Date: June 1, 2024
- Time: 10 p.m. ET | 9 p.m. CT | 7 p.m. PT
- Location: Prudential Center; Newark, N.J.
As is routine with nearly every UFC pay-per-view event, it takes three parts to complete. The early prelims begin at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the traditional prelims at 8 p.m. ET, before transitioning to pay-per-view action at 10 p.m. ET.
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The event takes place from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, which has hosted several UFC events across the last decade-plus and is home to the NHL's New Jersey Devils. The arena's capacity is 18,000 seats when sold out.
| Region | Date | Early Prelims Start Time | Prelims Start Time | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Ring Walks (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (ET) | Saturday, June 1 | 6 p.m. ET | 8 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. ET | 12:15 a.m. ET (Sun morn) |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Saturday, June 1 | 3 p.m. PT | 5 p.m. PT | 7 p.m. PT | 9:15 p.m. PT |
| UK and Ireland | Sunday, June 2 | 11 p.m. BST (Sat night) | 1 a.m. BST | 3 a.m. BST | 5:15 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Sunday, June 2 | 8 a.m. AEST | 10 a.m. AEST | 12 p.m. AEST | 2:15 p.m. AEST |
UFC 302 live stream, TV channel info for Makhachev vs. Poirier
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Saturday, June 1 | ESPN PPV |
| Canada | Saturday, June 1 | Sportsnet+, DAZN, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass, Rumble, YouTube |
| United Kingdom | Sunday, June 2 | discovery+ |
| Australia | Sunday, June 2 | Main Event Kayo Sports, UFC Fight Pass |