Lovely right hook to the body by Makhachev. Poirier with one of his own. He stuffs a takedown attempt.

Both men land jabs at the same time. Again Poirier denies Makhachev a takedown. But Makhachev lands a good left hand and drives the challenger to the fence.

Poirier seemed to tell his corner just now that he’s hurt his leg. He’s trying to fend Makhachev off his back now, but he’s still standing.

Really nice switch exit by Poirier. He ends up standing in front of Makhachev, whose back is to the fence, and landing body shots on the Russian.

Poirier with an elbow to the head now, and Makhachev’s forehead is leaking blood! He fires back with a double-jab and cross, and Poirier retaliates with a beautiful combination to the head and body.

Poirier is defending another takedown, talking to UFC president Dana White through the fence.

Slick counter jab by Poirier. Solid knee up the middle by Makhachev, then an uppercut, and another knee in the clinch.

Makhachev gets a body lock and drives Poirier to the fence, where he trips the American. Makhachev takes the back, has a body triangle, and tries to stretch Poirier.

Poirier fights the hands. Makhachev, again, will look for a rear naked choke or maybe an armbar.

Makhachev moves into mount, but Poirier slips out from under the Russian – really nicely! The pair are back standing, and Poirier is walking down the champion.

Lots of blood coming from Poirier’s nose. Good right hook by Makhachev, then a left cross. His striking is so underrated.

Poirier’s face is swelling badly around his right eye, and he’s pawing at his left, which seems to be cut somewhere. Decent right hook by Poirier to end the round.

Poirier kicks low, and immediately Makhachev shoots for a single-leg takedown. Poirier manages to wriggle free, and the crowd loves that!

“U-S-A” is the chant in New Jersey. Poirier backs up Makhachev and lands a decent elbow in the clinch. Makhachev with a hard knee. The lightweights separate.

Again Makhachev tries a single-leg, and again Poirier scrambles and escapes. Good cross by Makhachev. Nice jab now.

More straight punches from Makhachev – jabs and crosses. He wings a right hook then drives for a single-leg, getting Poirier to the fence. But Poirier reverses the position! Very impressive.

Both men land uppercuts in a clinch. Makhachev with a knee to the body. The striking starts to take place at longer range, and Makhachev lands an uppercut after getting his head off the centre line.

Makhachev is the more accurate boxer so far, which is not what Poirier fans will have expected. And the Russian gets a takedown at the end of the round.

Both men stand southpaw. They’re the first fighters ever to wear gold UFC gloves.

Makhachev holds the centre of the ring. Good right hand from Poirier, but Makhachev fires back with a one-two.

He grabs ahold of Poirier and dumps him to the canvas already! Right by the fence. Makhachev is in half-guard, firing off short punches.

The crowd boos. Makhachev is working on an arm-triangle choke… He could pivot to the Americana. He goes for a Kimura instead!

Poirier rolls out of it well, but Makhachev quickly takes his back. He’s going to want the rear naked choke, but Poirier is firing off shots – punching over his own head – to deter the Russian.

That right hand from Poirier, earlier in the round, cut Makhachev around the champion’s left eye.

Makhachev is trying to isolate Poirier’s right arm. He may look for an armbar instead of the rear naked choke.

The crowd is willing on Poirier, who has defended well but is not getting out of this body triangle. Round one in the books.

Poirier is out first, to a mash-up walkout song. First up is a cover of “Diamonds” by Rihanna, then his usual song: “The Boss” by James Brown. The challenger is wearing special floral shorts for this one.

Now here comes Makhachev, the defending champion and pound-for-pound No 1.

Great reception for Poirier. Boos for Makhachev.

In Poirier’s long and storied MMA career, the fan favourite has earned six wins over four undisputed UFC champions. Yet none of those fighters held a UFC title when Poirier beat them, except Max Holloway in his second fight with the American; even then, Holloway was vying for the interim lightweight belt against Poirier, rather than defending his featherweight strap.

That is to say: For all of Poirier’s achievements, he has never won an undisputed UFC title. The “Diamond” claimed the interim 155lbs belt against Holloway in that 2019 rematch, adding to his past win over the Hawaiian, victories over Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez, and future wins over Conor McGregor. But the ‘official’ lightweight title has eluded Poirier.

Furthermore, the 35-year-old has beaten those champions by all imaginable means – decision, knockout, submission – but he has always failed at the technique he enjoys most: the guillotine.

Full main-event breakdown:

Poirier, a veteran and fan favourite, previously held the interim belt but has twice failed to win the official lightweight title. In 2019, the American was submitted by then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, and in 2021, Poirier lost a title fight against Charles Oliveira – again losing via submission.

Makhachev, the UFC’s pound-for-pound No 1, won the title by submitting Oliveira in 2022, and the Russian retained the belt twice in 2022 – beating Alexander Volkanovski both times. Volkanovski, who was featherweight champion at the time, lost to Makhachev on points then by knockout.

The main event is moments away…

Costa is doing better right now, throwing more low kicks again and committing to close range to land punches.

More leg kicks and body jabs from Costa, who then throws a body kick. Strickland with a teep to the body.

Costa just about lands two left hooks upstairs, but he eats a jab for his trouble.

Strickland lets his right hand go now, and he drops Costa with a head kick! Costa stands and is wobbled by another, before Strickland jumps forward with a sort of flying front kick!

To the scorecards we go…

Sean Strickland def. Paulo Costa via split decision (46-49, 50-45, 49-46)

That 49-46 scorecard to Costa is very generous.

Costa is struggling to get past Strickland’s jab. Strickland keeps stalking Costa.

The former champ throws a couple more teep kicks to the body. Costa misses with a left hook and eats a cross.

Good side kick from Costa, but again he can’t close range because of Strickland’s jabs.

Oh! Good left hook to the body by Costa, though.

Strickland has Costa scrambling to get some space – just for a moment.

Costa kicks to the body, but Strickland partially catches it. Strickland checks a low kick, and Costa seems to have been hurt by that…

Strickland is frustrating Costa with his jab now. Costa just misses with a left hook. Decent one-two now, though.

Costa is trying to deter Strickland with feints, but the American isn’t really biting.