What was so good about UFC 302 main event?

[MigitAs]

Two major talking points have emerged from the aftermath of UFC 302. First is everyone saying how boring most of the card was, especially the co-main event. Second (and the reason people aren’t calling 302 worst PPV of all-time) is how good the main event was. So what made this fight so entertaining?

Was it Dustin doing better and looking better than most people expected (without a single Gilly attempt!), or Islam looking worse? Was it just the competitive nature of the matchup? Why do you think this fight is being talked about as a FOTY candidate?

Edit: I really enjoyed the fight, just trying to pinpoint specifically what made it great.

 

[Whitestallion]

Two major talking points have emerged from the aftermath of UFC 302. First is everyone saying how boring most of the card was, especially the co-main event. Second (and the reason people aren’t calling 302 worst PPV of all-time) is how good the main event was. So what made this fight so entertaining?

Was it Dustin doing better and looking better than most people expected (without a single Gilly attempt!), or Islam looking worse? Was it just the competitive nature of the matchup? Why do you think this fight is being talked about as a FOTY candidate?

If you didn't find it a good fight you're a terrible human and probably a troll.

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

Two major talking points have emerged from the aftermath of UFC 302. First is everyone saying how boring most of the card was, especially the co-main event. Second (and the reason people aren’t calling 302 worst PPV of all-time) is how good the main event was. So what made this fight so entertaining?

Was it Dustin doing better and looking better than most people expected (without a single Gilly attempt!), or Islam looking worse? Was it just the competitive nature of the matchup? Why do you think this fight is being talked about as a FOTY candidate?

For me it was seeing two great fighters grind it out and perhaps the best in the UFC finally getting the finish. That fight is pretty much as *Joe Rogan* "high level" as you'll get to see.

 

[Neck&Neck]

What was so bad about it

 

[tritestill]

Was cool

 

[Koro_11]

Definitely not Fight of the year, but Dustin put up more of a fight than most of us expected, and the visual of Islam being cut and scrambling to win it in the fifth round, added to the excitement. It was a pretty good fight, much better than most were expecting I think.

 

[VinceArch]

The fight was awesome, the whole card wasn't as bad as people make it out to be IMO. Only fight on the main card that sucked was Strickland-Costa.

Poirier came to fight, did a good job getting back to his feet when he could and Islam welcomed the fight that was brought to him. That foot trip he did in the final round is a thing of beauty, real slick.

 

[JBJ was here]

The main event was a really good fight that is being somewhat overrated due to the absolute hideousness of the rest of the card. In particular, the fight wasn't as close as people seem to think - Poirier didn't take round 2, but it was closer than people were expecting him to get, which in paper mismatches is often enough for fans to start thinking a fighter won a round that they didn't.

 

[filthybliss]

Dustin lasted longer than expected and yeah, the strickland fight was a bore because Costa just seemed to backpeddaling to avoid getting KOed.

 

[TadDunbar]

I don't get why people think it was so great? Bassil vs. Gall should've won FOTN

 

[The Siege]

Two major talking points have emerged from the aftermath of UFC 302. First is everyone saying how boring most of the card was, especially the co-main event. Second (and the reason people aren’t calling 302 worst PPV of all-time) is how good the main event was. So what made this fight so entertaining?

Was it Dustin doing better and looking better than most people expected (without a single Gilly attempt!), or Islam looking worse? Was it just the competitive nature of the matchup? Why do you think this fight is being talked about as a FOTY candidate?

Edit: I really enjoyed the fight, just trying to pinpoint specifically what made it great.

1) People counted Poirier out and said that if Islam gets it on the ground, it's over. However, it wasn't. Dustin demonstrated high level TD defense and sub defense and stayed competitive all the way until the end.

2) people said if Islam stood with Dustin he risked getting KO/TKOed. Didn't happen, Islam came in with some crisp boxing both offensive and defensive. Good slipping and rolling, great lateral movement and pivots, doubling up jabs, nice hooks, and he showed an impressive boxing skillset that Dagestanis are not known to have (at least the current crop of MMA ones).

3) Both drew blood. Islams forehead was cut while Dustin's mouth and nose were busted (I think there was an accidental headbutt that caused that). People love blood.

4) Islam winning on the cards going into the fifth throws caution to the wind and chases the finish against an always dangerous Poirier who seems to become more lethal as the fight goes on (judging by his past fights).

5) Overall, great back forth striking and some slick grappling sequences from both fighters. It was pretty cool seeing both of them subvert expectations and perform well in the areas they "aren't supposed to".

 

[Hassan Mouzine]

definateluy that dustin fought back in the 2nd round. in the first round it seemed islam would have his way easily. and of course that it was a complete mma fight....striking standing, striking on the ground, submission attempts, wrestling, muay thai clinch, blood on both fighters. in previous matches some judges had insane scoring cards so when Islam turned it up in the fifth and 'jiggled' poiriers leg to get him where he wanted and used the guilotine to bait poirier......it was an empathic finish to a good fight.

it is way way way better than fight where 2 fighters are just bashin each ohters heads in without a complete set of skills displayed. i know people enjoy takayama vs don fry and many of such fights, but that's kinda silly enjoyment and not a high level entertaining one

 

[Arm Barbarian]

For me, it was a lot more competitive than I thought it would be, and both dudes were donating plasma on the canvas.

What's not to like about it?

 

[humdizzle]

it was high level mma. dustin brought the fight escaped mount. islam had a slick sub finish and outboxed poirier for 3-4 rounds. islam showed he can overcome damage/adversity