The champion is still the one in control. In the main fight of the evening on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey, Makhachev’s victory over Poirier in an intense and aggressive battle kept Islam the lightweight champion. Only in the fifth round, Makhachev managed to deliver a decisive blow to Arce and thereby continued the outstanding winning streak that stretches to fourteen fights now.

In the Octagon, Makhachev shared with Joe Rogan "It's my dream,I want to feel that energy again because when you defend your belt it’s not the same. I need a new one.”

During the round Makhachev was putting pressure on Poirier and was able to knock Poirier down to the floor but Poirier was also able to work the body and head of Makhachev and receive little damage in return.

The fight continued to the second round with Makhachev offering two fast takedowns that Poirier easily avoided and defended. But the Russian came back with two strong left hooks to the jaw which the challenger took in return.

Showing some of the early fluke, Poirier landed a good right on Makhachev’s face cutting over his left eye in the first round. He did, however, take a much brighter form in the latter part of the second round, which hit on several sharp shots.

Before the round could end, Makhachev achieved a takedown even though Poirier attempted a surge. After that, he started the third round with throwing an inside knee on Poirier’s head, after that he followed it up with a perfect jab.Makhachev did this by taking the back of Poirier and as the champion displayed his skill in defending the submission, Makhachev constantly tried to sink in a rear-naked choke before switching to an armbar attempt.

Although Poirier successfully escaped the situation in which he found himself, he was left severely injured. He seemed to be having some problem with his left eye as the face was swollen on the side of that eye. Still, Poirier managed to regain the significant fight and successfully defended Makhachev’s last takedown attempt as they stepped into the final fifth round.

He began the fight aggressively, parrying Makhachev’s initial attempt at takedown once again and then connecting a big left hook which may have felled him and kept the fight in the striking distance and the possibility of an upset alive.

Poirier threw all he had in him in the fight, which meant he wanted to win. While he was able to win the title in his third fight, the native of Louisiana maybe gave his best performance ever in a championship bout. Makhachev initiated the fight on the mat, but he was countered by Poirier with enough force for numerous rounds. Though Poirier was knocked out in the first round, he did not panic at all and also had good takedown defense. However, that did not deter Makhachev as he pressed on and scored the final moments’ submission chokehold which Poirier failed to fight off.

Managed to shut down all of Makhachev’s takedown attempts for the most part, but successfully initiated important takedowns in the first, third and fifth rounds respectively that led to his win.

Of all these takedowns, the ankle pick move that dropped Poirier on the ground and the subsequent D’arce chokehold could easily be said to be the most strategic and impactful. This significant event occurred after the highly rated fourth round in which Poirier showcased his versatility in foot movement.

Following his third failed attempt to capture lightweight world title, Poirier, 35 year of age and 30-9, 1 NC record performance, expressed his desire to retire from the sport. After the fight, Poirier began dropping retirement hints again and again, reminding of what he said all week, that this might have been his final performance in the cage. He was known as the ultimate prospect of the promotion, one of the best fighters of his generation who never won an undisputed title: “The Diamond.”

"I'm not 100 percent but if this is my last fight, I want to dedicate this journey to the people who have made me the man I am," Poirier told Rogan, “It’s just if I do fight again, what am I fighting for? Just to fight? I’ve done that 50 times. I don’t know. I’ve got a little girl I love. I’ve got to see. I think this could be it honestly.”

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