(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Dustin Poirier after UFC 302 title loss?)
[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] held serve as top dog in the lightweight division Saturday when he defended his title against Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 headliner.
Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) tied the all-time divisional title defense record when he locked up a fifth-round submission on Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., extending his winning streak to 14 fights inside the octagon.
Following the win, there appears to be two paths for Makhachev: Go all-in on moving up to welterweight to challenge the Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad winner at UFC 304, or attempt to take sole possession of the 155-pound title defense record with a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan.
What does the future hold for Makhachev? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC 302.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.