Nearly two years have passed since that fight, but the size difference still generates discussion. Dustin Poirier revealed Islam Makhachev’s massive fight-night weight during a recent Joe Rogan podcast appearance. The retired fighter made some shocking claims about how much the champion weighed on fight night.

Dustin Poirier Drops Bombshell Weight Claims On Rogan’s Podcast

Dustin Poirier sat down with Joe Rogan recently and discussed various topics from his fighting career. The conversation naturally turned toward weight cutting and rehydration practices in modern MMA. Fighters regularly cut significant amounts of water weight to make championship limits. Then they rehydrate aggressively between weigh-ins and fight night to regain size and strength advantages.

Poirier revealed he recently visited Hunter Campbell’s office at UFC headquarters in Las Vegas. Campbell serves as the UFC’s Chief Business Officer and handles various operational responsibilities. During their conversation, they discussed Poirier’s fight against Makhachev at UFC 302. Campbell apparently shared fight-night weight data that the promotion tracks but doesn’t publicly release for all fighters.

“Islam is huge. I was in his [Hunter’s] office not too long ago, and they keep records of all the fight-night weights. They don’t release them all, but they keep them. We were talking about the Islam fight, and he told me his weight, and I was like, ‘That’s insane…192 pounds, I think,  something like 190, 191, somewhere around there. I was 176.”

That represents a staggering 37-pound difference between the two fighters on fight night. Both men weighed exactly 155 pounds at the official weigh-ins less than 24 hours earlier. If Poirier’s numbers are accurate, Makhachev gained roughly 37 pounds through rehydration in one day. That’s an absolutely massive amount of weight to add back after an extreme cut.

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Islam Makhachev Fires Back Immediately On Social Media

Islam Makhachev (28-1) didn’t wait long to respond after clips from Poirier’s Rogan interview started circulating online. The reigning lightweight and welterweight champion took to his Telegram channel to dispute the allegations directly. Makhachev flatly denied ever weighing more than 80 kilograms, which converts to approximately 176 pounds.

“I’ve never weighed more than 80 kg [176 pounds], ever.”

Makhachev’s denial creates an interesting situation where someone is clearly wrong about these numbers. Either Poirier misremembered what Hunter Campbell told him, or Campbell provided inaccurate information. The other possibility is that Makhachev is downplaying his actual fight-night weight for competitive reasons. 

Supporting Makhachev’s side of this debate is his weigh-in data from UFC 311 seven months after fighting Poirier. He weighed 178 pounds on fight night against Renato Moicano in January 2025. That’s only 23 pounds above the lightweight limit and nowhere near the 192 pounds Poirier claimed. Even in his fight against Jack Della Maddalena at the 170 lb limit, he weighed in at 189 lbs..

Whether Poirier exaggerated the numbers or Makhachev is being truthful doesn’t change the fight’s outcome. Makhachev submitted Poirier convincingly in the fifth round regardless of weight advantages. But these accusations add another layer to ongoing discussions about weight cutting in combat sports. 

(Image Credit: DAZN)

ALSO READ: Boxing’s Highest Earners Per Punch: Stats Revealed

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The post Dustin Poirier Reveals Islam Makhachev’s Massive Fight-Night Weight; The Champion Responds Instantly! first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

Going into the bout, Pimblett is the fan favourite because of his undefeated record and dangerous submission skills inside the Octagon. The fighter already defeated veterans like Bobby Green, Tony Ferguson, and Michael Chandler, maintaining strong momentum in his lightweight career.

Pimblett plans to continue this momentum by defeating another respected opponent and potentially winning the undisputed title. Former lightweight legend Dustin Poirier recently discussed this fight and backed Gaethje to secure victory against Paddy Pimblett. 

“I just think Justin has been in those 25-minute fights. He’s been in dogfights before. I think Paddy’s gonna have a tough time stopping him on the feet, and I don’t think Paddy’s gonna be able to get him down. Justin is just a bigger puncher, and he’ll put himself in harm’s way to land one of those shots. It’s tough to stay away from that for 25 minutes,” said Justin Gaethje via X. 

Poirier has fought Justin Gaethje twice, winning once, but losing their most recent encounter by a vicious knockout. Both fighters have suffered two championship defeats, missing gold despite delivering unforgettable performances throughout their respective lightweight careers. 

They are often remembered as the greatest fighters who never captured undisputed UFC titles despite constant elite-level performances. Mutual respect between Poirier and Gaethje remains strong, built through brutal battles, professionalism, and shared admiration for each other.

For Gaethje, this represents his final opportunity to win championship gold before retirement potentially closes his remarkable fighting journey. On the other hand, Pimblett is motivated to deal with other rivals after UFC 324.

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Paddy Pimblett plans to make Ilia Topuria wait 

UFC 324 was organised after Ilia Topuria stayed away from competing due to ongoing personal issues that required his complete attention recently. The fighter claimed he will return in April and face the winner of Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje soon.

However, the Scouser does not want to fight ‘El Matador’ so soon and may take a long break afterward, possibly. “He’s gonna have to wait. He made me wait, he can wait a few months. April is not happening lad. He can eat sh*t. I’ll fight in June/July,” Paddy Pimblett via TMZ Sports. 

Pimblett and Topuria share a fierce rivalry displayed through repeated heated exchanges and constant verbal insults over time. Many believe this matchup is among the biggest possible fights on the current UFC roster. It will be interesting to see when UFC schedules it, especially if Pimblett wins at UFC 324.

READ MORE: UFC 324: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett: Event Details and Full Fight Card 

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The post Dustin Poirier Backs Old Rival Justin Gaethje to Defeat Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

Fast forward to today, and the UFC boasts one of the deepest talent pools in combat sports history. They have multiple divisions packed with world class athletes who could headline their own shows. However, even with all that talent depth, the UFC occasionally finds itself in a tricky spot when putting together pay per view cards. Injuries happen, scheduling conflicts arise, and sometimes the stars just don’t align properly for a stacked card from top to bottom. This creates situations where the promotion has to lean heavily on one marquee matchup to sell an entire event. They hope that casual fans will tune in for that one special fight.

The most successful pay per view events typically feature at least two or three fights that could realistically headline their own cards. This could create multiple reasons for fans to justify the purchase. When that balance isn’t there, the pressure on the main event becomes enormous, and the supporting cast often gets lost in the shuffle entirely.

UFC 318 Fight Card

Here is the UFC 318 Main Card:

Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier 3 (BMF Title)
Ateba Gautier vs. Robert Valentin
Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov
Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber

Here is the UFC 318 Preliminary Card:

Marvin Vettori vs. Brendan Allen
Kyler Phillips vs. Vinicius Oliveira
Ikram Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira

Here is the UFC 318 Early Preliminary:

Adam Fugitt vs. Islam Dulatov
Carli Judice vs. Nicolle Caliari
Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Prachnio
Neil Magny vs. Gunnar Nelson

Looking at this lineup, the main event absolutely deserves all the attention it’s getting. Holloway defending his BMF title against Poirier creates a compelling narrative that writes itself. Both fighters have built legendary careers through different paths, and their styles mesh perfectly for what should be an entertaining scrap.

Holloway’s relentless volume striking and cardio against Poirier’s power and veteran savvy promises fireworks. The BMF title adds an extra layer of intrigue, even if some fans still debate whether the belt carries real significance. Most importantly, this marks Poirier’s farewell fight, giving the bout emotional weight that outweighs championship implications.

The Star Power Problem

The main issue with UFC 318 isn’t the quality of the headlining fight, it’s everything else on the card. Scanning down the lineup, casual fans will struggle to find another bout that generates genuine excitement or recognition. Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov represents the closest thing to a legitimate fight. But Costa’s recent inconsistency has significantly dimmed his star power. The Brazilian was once considered a legitimate title threat after his impressive rise through the middleweight ranks, but losses to Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, combined with weight cutting issues, have downgraded his status.

Marvin Vettori taking on Brendan Allen might excite hardcore fans who appreciate technical middleweight battles. However, it won’t move the needle for mainstream audiences. Vettori has always been more respected than beloved, earning his reputation through grinding performances rather than spectacular finishes. Allen represents solid competition, but he lacks the name recognition needed to draw casual interest. The same pattern continues throughout the rest of the main card, where Neil Magny vs Gunnar Nelson and Michael Johnson facing Daniel Zellhuber feature capable veterans without the star power to justify pay per view placement.

When Main Events Carry Too Much Weight

This situation puts UFC 318 in the uncomfortable position of being a ‘one fight show’ masquerading as a complete pay per view experience. While Holloway vs Poirier certainly has the potential to deliver a classic encounter, asking one fight to justify the entire purchase price creates unrealistic expectations. What happens if the main event ends quickly via early knockout? What if an injury forces a last minute cancellation? The lack of depth means there’s no safety net to maintain fan interest if things go wrong.

The UFC’s matchmaking team likely faced significant challenges putting this card together. Fighter availability, injuries, and scheduling conflicts can wreak havoc on even the best laid plans. The promotion operates on a demanding schedule that requires constant juggling of talent across multiple weight classes and geographic locations. Sometimes the pieces just don’t fall into place, leaving matchmakers with limited options for creating balanced cards that justify premium pricing.

Compare this to recent successful pay per view events like UFC 300 or UFC 317, which featured multiple championship fights and recognizable names throughout the lineup. Those cards provided value at every level, giving fans multiple reasons to tune in and stay engaged from the early preliminaries through the main event. UFC 318 feels more like a Fight Night card with a premium main event attached, which raises legitimate questions about whether it deserves pay per view status.

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Did The UFC Business Model Fail?

The UFC’s business model relies heavily on attracting casual fans who might only watch a few events per year. These fans typically need multiple compelling reasons to justify spending money on pay per view, especially with so many entertainment options available. While hardcore fans will watch regardless of card depth, casual viewers often make their purchasing decisions based on overall card strength rather than individual fight quality.

Looking ahead, UFC 318 serves as a reminder that even the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion occasionally struggles with card construction. The main event deserves all the praise it receives, but the surrounding fights lack the star power and compelling narratives needed for a truly successful pay per view event. While hardcore fans will likely enjoy the technical aspects of the supporting bouts, casual viewers might find themselves questioning whether they received adequate value for their money. The UFC’s continued success depends on finding the right balance between marquee attractions and overall card depth, something that UFC 318 unfortunately fails to achieve.

Also Read: Ilia Topuria Knocks Out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317: What’s Next After This First-Round Stunner?

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The post Does UFC 318 Lack The Depth Of A Pay Per View Card? first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.