A few months ago, it was announced that New Jersey would host another UFC event, as the Prudential Center in Newark hosts UFC 302 on June 1. This is the Garden State’s first time hosting a UFC pay-per-view event since UFC 288, which also took place in the Prudential Center, setting the venue’s live sporting event gate record in 2023. UFC 302 will be the tenth event that the fighting organization has hosted at the arena since its inception in 2007.
An In-Depth Look at UFC 302’s Fight Card
The fight card for UFC 302 features a stacked lineup of former champions, rising prospects and established veterans. The card is headlined by one of the most anticipated main events of the year, as longtime fighter Dustin Poirier looks to dethrone the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, Islam Makhachev. Despite beating the likes of Conor McGregor, Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje, some of the best fighters in the promotion’s history, Poirier has never been able to taste gold. With a resume as impressive as his, the only thing that could make it look better is having ‘UFC Lightweight Champion’ on it.
Entering the fight as a heavy favorite, Poirier will look to defy the odds in what could be his last chance for the undisputed title. While it may seem unlikely, if he is able to pull it off, it will go down as one of the most electrifying and unexpected title changes in UFC history.
Aside from the main event, there is still plenty of talent on the card. The co-main event for the evening will see former UFC Middleweight champion Sean Strickland take on the #7 ranked fighter in the division Paulo Costa in a #1 contender bout. Strickland, who recently lost his belt at UFC 297, will look to earn a rematch for a shot to earn the title back, while Costa looks to earn his first title shot since 2020.
Other notable names appearing on next month’s card include Jailton Almeida, Tatsuro Taira, Anthony Hernandez and Alexandr Romanov.
UFC’s Last Appearance in NJ
More recently than UFC 288, the promotion came to the Garden State just a few months ago on Mar. 30, where we saw NJ native Erin Blanchfield in the main event, along with Chris Weidman, who hails from New York. In the UFC’s first time back at Atlantic City in six years, the promotion brought in over $2 million from the official gate, with over 12,000 in attendance.
With a maximum capacity of over 16,000 and an enticing lineup of fighters, the UFC is expecting a large turnout for this highly anticipated event. New Jersey has established itself as a premier destination for UFC events, whether it be a fight night or pay-per-view and UFC 302 hopes to only reinforce that.