This Saturday night, Dustin Poirier will get his third chance at claiming the UFC lightweight title.
'The Diamond' will take on reigning champion - and the number one pound-for-pound fighter - Islam Makhachev, in UFC 302's highly-anticipated main event bout.
Poirier, who has a professional record of 30-8, has never held a title before but, having come so close previously, will look to put that drought to an end on Saturday.
However, his task is by no means an easy one. He faces an in-form Makhachev who has breezed past all his opponents in recent years - including Alexander Volkanovski.
Here, Mail Sport takes a look at both fighters and the stats behind their careers ahead of UFC 302.
Dustin Poirier will get his third chance to win the UFC lightweight title on Saturday evening
'The Diamond' will take on reigning champion Islam Makhachev in UFC 302's main event
Despite his incredible career in the UFC - which includes wins over Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler and Max Holloway - Poirier is, somehow, yet to get his hands on a title.
In 2021, the American was defeated by Brazil's Charles Oliveira after tapping to a rear-naked choke in the third round of their championship bout.
Two years prior, at UFC 242, Poirier was once again defeated by submission. This time to Khabib Nurmagomedov, who will be in Makhachev's corner on Saturday.
The American will therefore be hoping that it'll be 'third time lucky' in his case, as he prepares to take on his Dagestani counter-part at thePrudential Center in New Jersey.
Poirier comes into the bout off the back of an impressive display against Benoit Saint-Denis, where he dismantled the Frenchman inside ten minutes.
Saint-Denis started impressively against Poirier, landing knees, elbows and short punches, but was undone in the second round.
Poirier caught the Frenchman with an uppercut before putting him away with a right hook to secure the 22nd UFC victory of his career.
'I was getting beat up a bit, Poirier admitted afterwards. 'He was pretty strong.
Poirier has an impressive career in the UFC with wins over the likes of Conor McGregor (right)
However, he's twice fallen short in claiming the title - once against Charles Oliveira in 2021
His first title shot ended in a third round submission defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019
'I took the fight because he finished his last five and he's dangerous with a never say die attitude.
'It's the nature of the beast, it's what we do. Respect to him, sacrifice doesn't go unnoticed.'
The victory over Saint-Denis helped Poirier get back on track after being on the receiving end of a brutal KO against Justin Gaethje in their BMF title fight.
It has also helped him secure this title fight against Makhachev, who remains the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the organisation.
The 32-year-old has had an astronomical rise through the lightweight division in recent years and won the belt with an impressive victory over Charles Oliveira.
He followed that up with consecutive victories over Alexander Volkanovski in 2023, with the second being finished by a brutal head-kick and a barrage of punches.
It helped display just how much Makhachev has developed his skills since entering the UFC, with people previously viewing him as solely a wrestler.
However, the victory over Volkanovski will keep Poirier on his toes - even with his advantage in reach against the Dagestani.
Makhachev has produced two stunning victories over Alexander Volkanovski in the last year
The statistics for both fighters make for an interesting match-up inside the octagon
Poirier boasts a 185cm reach while Makhachev has a 179cm reach. The Dagestan fighter comes out on top in the height department but only by three centimeters.
However, even with a reach advantage, Poirier still has the near-impossible task of handing Makhachev his second ever UFC defeat.
Back in 2015, he was left flat out on the canvas by Adriano Martins but insisted that the defeat helped mould him into the champion he is today.
'That moment, I [was] just thinking, 'Nobody can stop me,' he said back in October 2022.
'When the fight is beginning, I try to push my opponents, try to go always forward, land some hard punch. But this is MMA, small gloves, you know? I learned a lot after this fight.'
'After this fight, I just start slowly my fights. Like, try to feel the distance and all these things.
'Before, when they start, I just go forward, try to take them down, don't think about the plan, but now I take it slow.'
Should Makhachev triumph over Poirier on the night, it could lead to yet another champion vs champion bout involving the 32-year-old.
Makhachev has previously hinted that he'd be interest in a bout with Britain's Leon Edwards
Having already beaten Volkanovski twice, Makhachev has been rumoured for a fight with British star and welterweight title holder Leon Edwards.
There had been suggestions they could fight at UFC 300 but, given the event was held in Ramadan, the bout never materialised.
Speaking at the time, Makhachev said:'Of course (it makes me sad), this is a dream fight for me.
'I don't have any small chance to fight at UFC 300, that's why I'm very upset, man. It's a big deal, big fight with Leon Edwards for the second belt, but this time I miss the chance.'
