The uncrowned prince finally got his chance to claim his throne. Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev are about to throw hands at each other at the UFC 302. Poirier’s victory against Benoit Saint-Denis got him the opportunity to set his stake at the lightweight belt again after he last lost it to Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Interestingly, Poirier and Makhachev would be the first fighters to don the new UFC golden gloves designed for better precision and fewer eye pokes. It seems like the lightweight champion believes it would be a historic moment for them. Let’s see what the lightweight champion thinks about the new gloves ahead of their clash.

Islam Makhachev’s 3 worded take on the new gloves

After a decade of rumble with the old gloves, UFC has finally come forward to change the gloves which would be catering to the demands of the fighters and the fans. The new design can restrict the damage caused to the fighter due to impact as the gloves would be more evenly distributed among the fighters, saving the fighter from further impact from his won punches.

The new glove design was first introduced at the UFC 300 weigh-ins when Brendan Fitzgerald and UFC Performance Institute VP Duncan French officially took center stage to announce and unveil the new gloves. There was a debate about who would be the first fighter to use the new gloves and seems it is finally over with Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev.

The news about them using it first has made a ruckus around social media and the lightweight champion likes where this is going. ESPN shared a post on their Instagram handle where they broke the news about the Makhachev and Poirier donning the new gloves and it seems to have gotten some response from the champ as he commented, “This is history”

History might be rewritten at the UFC 302 if Poirier defeats the champ to claim the throne as this could be Poirier’s last outing for the lightweight belt. Nevertheless, according to another lightweight fighter, Poirier would be defeated.

Michael Chandler chooses his winner for UFC 302

The last time Dustin Poirier was fighting for the best, Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted him in the third round at UFC 242. The interim champ lost his stake in the gold and it took him five years to remind everyone that he was there for the best as well. Poirier has a good ground game but when it comes to being the champion and defending it, Islam Makhachev would stand above anyone and Michael Chandler knows it.

In one of his Q&A sessions, Chandler was asked about his take on their clash, and ‘Iron’ had one thing to say to the audience. “Islam has the wrestling, grappling, strength, size advantage, and I think Islam finishes him, to be honest. It’s a title fight Islam is more versed in,” said Chandler.

Interestingly, when Poirier was at his peak, he was called out by a young Makhachev. Poirier, at that time, disregarded him. Yet, it seems like their impending clash was written in the stars. Nonetheless, what’s your take on their fight? Who would you choose as the victor?