This Could Be It

The UFC 302 main event re-imagined, the fantasy fight between Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago on 'Rocky IV' but sadly Rocky did not win in this story.

Islam Mhakachev managed to retain, the UFC light Heavyweight Champion, against the heavy favourite Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier, in Round five via Darce-Choke, causing the 'The Diamond' to Taped-Out, causing the Championship belt to slip through his hands.

The first round started with an exchange of strikes, from which Islam relatively sustained damage in round one, as the 'The Diamond' managed to cut his left eye, with his right lead jab, but soon after Islam secured a double-leg takedown, that pushed Dustin into the cage and eventually to the canvas.

The fight was taken on the ground, where Dustin seemed too vulnerable, as he couldn't strike Islam due to its phenomenal ground, a game from which at some point, Islam almost managed to secure a Kimura -lock.

Most of the fighting in round 1, is in the ground, with a total ground time of 3:33, controlled by Islam, which gives him the round.

Round Two, started with Islam, trying to attempt another double-leg takedown, but Dustin managed to defend and escape the grip of Islam, he then ate a direct knee strike from the face, from Islam and managed to escape another takedown.

'The Diamon' keep the Chmapion at Bay with his phenomenal striking game, which according to Joe Rogan

"Whatever the fight is standing...Dustin Have a chance".

Islam shoots another, takedown that pushes Dustin to the cage, but successfully defends and reverses it.

From the first and second rounds, successfully defended 3/3 Islam's takedowns, giving him a 100% defence rate from the first two rounds.

Dustin managed to escape the clinch of Islam, then immediately went back to the striking range which excelled the most in the second round, unleashing a big right hook, that tagged Islam and caused him to retreat.

In the last 14 seconds, Islam again shot a one-leg take-down, which he managed to secure, but not enough to fully utilise it against Dustin, which ended the second round.

Round 3 opened, with no rush from both fighters to land a strike, both fighters already showed signs of fatigue from the last two rounds.

Islam threw a consecutive knee strike to Porier's, hitting him in the temple, then immediately went for the clinch that pushed Dustin, to the cage that eventually wielded him to the canvas, and took the fight once again to the ground.

Dustin manages to escape the constricting grappling grip of Islam, but his arm is almost caught by Islam which almost results in an arm-bar, that could've ended the fight.

Porier immediately went back to striking giving an edge in the fight, but by this time Islam's lead was way ahead of the strikes landed as he landed 33 out of 66 against Dustin which made 50% higher, whilst Dustin only landed 16 out 66 strike against Islam, which makes it 27% less, but it seems round 3, goes to

Porier, as through the end of the round, Islam is kept at Bay by his striking.

In round four, both fighters show a clear sign of tiredness, Islam then opens the round by shooting a double-leg takedown, which Dustin successfully defends once again, Islam then immediately throws a left-hand, that tags Dustin, then immediately attempts another double-leg takedown that pushes Dustin to the cage, that eventually forces Dustin into a crouching position, but Dustin manages to reverse it and prevent to fight to be taken into the ground which Islam have an advantage.

Dustin then threw a jab that severely cut Islam in the forehead, then immediately moved to the clinch, followed by a body shots barrage at Islam, but stopped by Islam's Knee

Islam attempted another double-leg takedown and pushed Dustin again to the cage but was not successful in taking him down.

In the last 10 seconds of the round, Dustin attempts a Guillotine choke, on Islam that squeezed the blood out of his gash, putting a bloody finish of the round.

The last round, showed an intense showdown as it opened, with a striking frenzy, Dsutin threw a left-leg kick to the calf of Islam, and soon after, Islam shot a single-leg takedown, but once again Dustin escaped.

Dustin then fired a 1-2 combination that stunged Islam, but again Islam attempted another single leg-takedown that dragged Dustin to the canvas.

Dustin managed to escape the ground game but Islam managed to grab Dustin's ankle and reverse it to a grappling position and quickly grabbed Dustin's neck, which put him into a guillotine position, which transitioned to Darce-choke, which made Dustin tap securing Islam's win.

Islam's team started rushing to the octagon as Herb Dean stopped the fight, whilst Meic rushed in to check on the submitted Dustin Porier.

As Dustin regains his footing, the UFC Hall of Famer, and the former and undefeated champion Khabib 'The Eagle' Numagomedov, checks on Dustin Porier and iconically raises his hands for putting a fight and heart of 'diamond' against Islam.

In the fighter's post-fight interview, Islam praised how well Dustin defended his takedowns as he said that...

"He defends...My Takedowns and Give Me Hardtime"

Islam also said that Dustin "His a Champion.. and legend of this sport"

It also seems that Islam plans to move to the welterweight, targeting to fight the welterweight king Leon 'Rocky' Edwards and try to be a double champ in the process.

According to him "I want to fight for a second Belt... I need a new one"

If Islam is successful in this move or serious about moving up, the weight class and manages to defeat Leon, he will be recognised as one of the 'Pound for Pound' King in the UFC octagon.

On the other hand, the future of the 'Diamond' seems to be reaching its climax. In the post-fight interview of Joe Rogan with Dustin Porier, it seems that the 'Diamond' is contemplating, retiring from in the octagon.

"I know I can compete with the best of these, Guys But if Fight I again, what am I fighting for...I have fought 50 times.I have a little girl I love... I have to see if this could be it"

Although Dustin Porier, was the heavy favourite in this match, the Diamond took the fight to the lightweight king and took him into the deeper waters.

This is the most damage, that I've seen Islam, compared to his previous fights, a mark left by one of the greatest lightweight to ever fight inside the UFC octagon.

Even though both fighters, have different futures to look forward to in their careers, one thing is for sure, The UFC 302 main event will be in the Hall of Fame one day, as this legendary fight, between the greatest lightweight fighters of this generation to ever seen.