Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier dialed up the heat for UFC 302.
Ahead of their lightweight title showdown, Makhachev and Poirier traded barbs at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference. However, it wasn’t until their post-presser staredown that things really got chippy, as the reigning UFC lightweight champion and Poirier engaged in fiery back-and-forth before ultimately being pulled apart by security.
Hear Makhachev and Poirier’s heated conversation in full below.
“I’m going to knock you out on Saturday,” Poirier said after some initial confusion about Makhachev’s comments.
“How?” replied the UFC lightweight champ.
“Sleep,” said Poirier. “I’m going to sleep stop you.”
“You’re going to be diving for my legs, praying,” Poirier continued. “You’re going to be diving for my legs. You’re going to be laying and praying, that’s what you’re going to be doing.”
“Go to sleep, motherf*cker,” Poirier added.
“Don’t say motherf*cker to me,” Makhachev said, turning back angrily.
“Go to sleep, motherf*cker,” Poirier repeated.
“Don’t say motherf*cker,” Makhachev repeated.
The two then engaged in a tense exchange before being separated.
“I have respect for you, brother. But don’t get in my face like that,” Poirier said. “We’re going to fight.”
UFC 302 takes place June 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Makhachev, 32, seeks to tie the UFC’s all-time record for consecutive lightweight title defenses with his third defense of the belt.
Poirier, 35, vies for undisputed UFC gold for the third — and perhaps final — time of his career after previously falling short against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.
Watch the complete UFC 302 pre-fight press conference and faceoffs below.
