Dustin Poirier faced one of his toughest challenges back in 2024 when he fought Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. The former UFC lightweight champion remembers being surprised by how large Makhachev looked in the cage.
“I looked across under those spotlights, and he had veins in his shoulders and shit,” Poirier said on Joe Rogan’s podcast. “I’m like f*ck, this guy’s huge.”
Poirier went the full five rounds but was submitted by a brabo choke in the fifth. Despite the loss, the bout earned Fight of the Night honors, highlighting the intensity of the battle.
Size and Strength Difference
Poirier recently learned how much bigger Makhachev was compared to him that night.
“Islam is huge. He’s huge,” Poirier said. “Hunter [Campbell] from the UFC…we were talking about the Islam fight, and he was telling me about his weight, and I was like that’s insane. 192 [pounds] or something, I think. I think so. 190, 191, something around there. I was 176 [pounds].”
Makhachev responded directly to Poirier on Telegram:
“I’ve never weighed more than 80kg (176 pounds), ever.”
🚨 Islam Makhachev DENIES ever weighing 192 lbs on fight night against Dustin Poirier
“I’ve never weighed more than 80 kg [176 lbs], ever.” https://t.co/w0BZ8dSL3m pic.twitter.com/wdqTrTo8KM
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 17, 2026
The Brabo Choke
Poirier also explained how Makhachev’s technique made the choke nearly impossible to escape.
“It’s different. He strangled me,” Poirier said. “The way he did it…It’s kind of like a D’arce choke, but he locks it on his forearm. He doesn’t go to the bicep. The squeeze is different. He’s pulling to his chest. It’s not like an angle squeeze. It’s different. So the defense is different.”
Even when Poirier tried to move, Makhachev maintained control.
“When I got my legs out and tried to walk around, he hooked my leg, but the squeeze is completely different. You know, you belly down, kind of get some space to breathe? You can’t the way he does it.”
Once the choke was fully locked in, Poirier quickly went unconscious, ending the fight.
“When he gets the grip locked in, it’s complete, immediate blood shut down,” Poirier added. “You know how you usually feel it slowly fading away? It was like quick, right away. The darkness started coming in as soon as he got the grip.”
Makhachev later moved to welterweight, where he dominated Jack Della Maddalena to win that title, showing his strength and technical skill remain elite.
