UFC only signed Makhachev vs. Poirier after Arman Tsarukyan turned down UFC 302 title shot

Tsarukyan decided there was no reason to rush into a short notice title shot, opening the door for “The Diamond” to shine.

Dustin Poirier really did get a UFC 302 title shot against Islam Makhachev because no one else was willing to take it.

During the UFC 300 post-fight press conference, Dana White was given a scrap of paper with two breaking news announcements: Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler was finally official for UFC 303, and Makhachev would defend his 155 pound belt against Poirier at UFC 302.

Islam vs. Dustin has been percolating since “Diamond” beat Benoit Saint-Denis in a gritty war back at UFC 299. Some argued that Poirier wasn’t deserving, considering his 2-1 record since losing his last title shot to Charles Oliveira in 2021. But others, Makhachev included, noted that Poirier was the best contender available for the date.

All the other top lightweights — Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan — were fighting at UFC 300, and it was unlikely that they’d be willing to turn around in time for UFC 302 on June 1st. But we’ll give the UFC credit: they waited until after the event to give them the option.

In a new interview with Vadim Tikhomirov, Arman Tsarukyan’s manager Sayat Abdurakhmanov revealed that they’d been approached by UFC with an offer to fight Islam Makhachev in New Jersey.

“The fight with Islam [Makhachev] on June 1st was offered to us,” Abdurakhmanov said. “This happened immediately after the fight [with Charles Oliveira].”

Tsarukyan won a hard-fought split decision over Oliveira, and while he didn’t seem too banged up, he wasn’t interested in rushing a title fight.

“Before the fight there was an understanding that there was no point in going into a title fight with Islam on short notice, especially if the position of No. 1 contender had already been achieved. And there was an understanding that now Islam and Poirier would fight on June 1st, and then Arman would fight the winner.”

And with that, Dustin Poirier became not Mr. Right, but Mr. Right Now.

As for Arman Tsarukyan, he better hope his dibs on next works out better than it did for Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. As Max Holloway noted, you can spend a whole lot of time waiting around for your turn and end up nowhere, fast.