Matt Erickson
May 27, 2024 8:30 am ET
The UFC’s sixth pay-per-view event of 2024 goes down Saturdayin Newark, N.J.
Here’s how to watch UFC 302 with the bantamweight title on the line at the top of the card.
Broadcast and streaming info
New Jersey native Megan Olivi
UFC 302 has a main card that begins at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view (via ESPN+). The four-fight prelim card airs on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET, and three early prelims stream on ESPN+ at 6:15 p.m. ET.
Stay tuned to MMA Junkie for more broadcast details later this week.
Main event: Islam Makhachev
Russia’s Islam Makhachev reacts after his Lightweight bout against Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski during the Ultimate Fighting Championship 294 (UFC) event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 22, 2023. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
Record: 25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC
Opponent: Dustin Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Key wins: Alexander Volkanovski (twice), Charles Oliveira, Bobby Green, Dan Hooker, Arman Tsarukyan
Misc.: The 32-year-old Makhachev grew up with Khabib Nurmagomedov and has trained with him every step of the way. This will be his third attempted title defense after back-to-back wins over Volkanovski.
Main event: Dustin Poirier
Mar 9, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Benoit Saint Denis (blue gloves) fights Dustin Poirier (red gloves) during UFC 299 at Kayesa Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Record: 30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC
Opponent: Islam Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Key wins: Benoit Saint Denis, Michael Chandler, Conor McGregor (twice), Dan Hooker, Max Holloway (twice), Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, Anthony Pettis
Misc.: Poirier has his third crack at an undisputed UFC title. He beat Holloway to win an interim belt in 2019, but lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov in his first true title shot. After his win over Hooker and two finishes of McGregor, he was submitted by Charles Oliveira in his second crack at the belt.
Co-main event: Paulo Costa
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Paulo Costa gestures toward Robert Whittaker during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Record: 14-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC
Opponent: Sean Strickland (28-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Luke Rockhold, Yoel Romero, Uriah Hall, Johny Hendricks
Misc.: After a 13-0 start to his career, Costa got a title shot in 2020, but was knocked out by Israel Adesanya. Since then, he’s dropped fights to former champion Robert Whittaker and former title challenger Marvin Vettori. A Fight of the Night war with ex-champ Rockhold is the one bright spot the past four years, so a win over an ex-champ like Strickland could be of paramount importance.
Co-main event: Sean Strickland
Jan 20, 2024; Toronto, Canada, USA; Sean Strickland (red glove) fights Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Record: 28-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC
Opponent: Paulo Costa (14-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Israel Adesanya, Jack Hermansson, Uriah Hall, Brendan Allen
Misc.: Strickland cashed in on a bit of a surprise title shot that came on the heels of wins over Nassourdine Imavov and Abusupiyan Magomedov and largely dominated Adesanya to win the title this past September. His reign lasted just four months; he lost the belt to Dricus du Plessis in January.
UFC debut: Mitch Raposo
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: Mitch Raposo prepares to fight Jake Hadley in a flyweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season five, week seven at UFC APEX on October 12, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Record: 9-1
Opponent: Andre Lima (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Key wins: Justin Valentin (for Cage Titans flyweight title)
Misc.: The 25-year-old Raposo is just three years removed from Season 29 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” After that season, he lost to current UFC fighter Jake Hadley on Dana White’s Contender Series. But since then, he has four straight stoppages, a Cage Titans title, and now a short-notice second chance with the UFC.
UFC 302 main card betting odds
Alexandr Romanov
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
- Champ Islam Makhachev (-600) vs. Dustin Poirier (+400) –for lightweight title
- Paulo Costa (+185) vs. Sean Strickland (-225)
- Kevin Holland (-250) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (+205)
- Jailton Almeida (-280) vs. Alexandr Romanov (+230)
- Randy Brown (-170) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (+140)
UFC 302 prelim betting odds
Joe Solecki submits Carl Deaton at UFC Fight Night 220
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET)
- Cesar Almeida (+105) vs. Roman Kopylov (-125)
- Grant Dawson (-380) vs. Joe Solecki (+280)
- Jake Matthews (-160) vs. Phil Rowe (+135)
- Alex Morono (-245) vs. Niko Price (+200)
UFC 302 early prelim betting odds
Sep 2, 2023; Paris, France; Joselyne Edwards (blue gloves) before the fight against Nora Cornolle (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET)
- Bassil Hafez (-310) vs. Mickey Gall (+245)
- Joselyne Edwards (+175) vs. Ailin Perez (-210)
- Andre Lima (-205) vs. Mitch Raposo (+170)
UFC 302 Countdown
Preview videos
Headliners' full fight videos
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