UFC 302 Prediction and Betting Tips: Selections for New Jersey numbered card
Newark's Prudential Centre stages some intriguing matchups this weekend in another airtight UFC card, with headliners Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier contesting lightweight gold at the tip of the UFC 302 iceberg.
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Current 155lbs king Makhachev is within touching distance of equalling the lightweight title defence record, needing to beat Poirier, who returned to the win column back in March at UFC 299 with a second round knockout of Benoit Saint-Denis.
This quick turnaround sees 'The Diamond' become a real beneficiary of being in the right place at the right time, having only been afforded this title opportunity due to Arman Tsarukyan turning down the fight at short notice.
Elsewhere on the card, former middleweight belt holder Sean Strickland squares off with Paulo Costa in a five-round co-main event blockbuster that needs no gold on the line to deliver.
Also featured is the game Kevin Holland, Brazilian heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida and the top-15 seeking Randy 'Rudeboy' Brown.
UFC 302 Tips
Having sat just one win away from a potential interim title fight with England's Tom Aspinall, Jailton Almeida took a tumble down the pecking order after Curtis Blaydes delivered a fatal blow in their UFC 299 scrap back in March.
That was 'Malhadinho's first loss in 15 fights, forcing him to take this bout with No.13 ranked heavyweight Alexander Romanov despite only a two-month layoff.
This pair have suffered similar damage to their reputations as the next breed of heavyweight contenders, but will understand that a statement victory will go a long way in repairing those perceptions.
Almeida is the far more athletic fighter of the two, possessing a significant striking advantage and a dominant level of grappling over the Moldovan.
Whether it's in the early exchanges or towards the end of the contest, we're confident the Brazilian displays his superiority and finds the stoppage.
In the wake of an unsuccessful campaign for an immediate rematch with Dricus Du Plessis for the 185lbs belt, Sean Strickland instead is forced to settle for this co-main event against Brazilian Paulo Costa.
Although it will be thoroughly entertaining, this won't be the classiest of five-rounders. Both fighters will look to make things scrappy, especially in those early couple of rounds. That being said, the style, experience and activity of 'Tarzan' means we're giving him the edge in this one.
Strickland may take some time to find his rhythm, but that is an adjustment he can afford should 'Borrachinha' taper off as he has done previously in 25-minute contests.
Costa is undoubtedly the more powerful striker of the two, however, Strickland's output exceeds that of his dance partner, and the longer this bout goes on, the more high-scoring Sean's forward pressure is likely to be among the judges.
Coach and current division title defence record holder Khabib Nurmagomedov re-enters Makhachev's corner for this high-stakes main event closing out UFC 302.
This will mark Dustin's third shot at realising UFC gold, hinting that this could be his final fight should things not go his way this weekend.
Although The Diamond holds the striking advantage, it's maybe a little more overstated due to how Makhachev's abilities on the feet largely go under the radar for one reason or another.
That, however, seems like a moot point when grappling and clinch work is what could ultimately dictate this fight - two areas Islam has a sizeable upper hand in.
Saint-Denis went out and dominated Poirier early with relative ease, mixing up his clinching, wrestling and striking to disorient the 35-year-old.
No matter how efficient his sprawling proves, the champ will take Dustin to the ground at some point, and when he does, we're unlikely to see the glamorous send-off that the Louisianan is dreaming of.
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