UFC Fight Night 202: Makhachev vs. Green | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Ariel Helwhiney
- May 22
- 5 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 202: Makhachev vs. Green took place on February 26, 2022 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas — UFC Vegas 49. The event was originally booked as Islam Makhachev vs. Beneil Dariush at lightweight, but Dariush suffered an injury and Bobby Green stepped in on just two weeks’ notice — his second fight in 14 days. The bout was contested at a 160-lb catchweight, the UFC’s first catchweight-headliner in over five years.
Makhachev dominated. He secured a takedown, took full mount, and rained down punches until Herb Dean stopped the fight at 3:23 of round one. The win extended Makhachev’s winning streak to 10 consecutive — and his post-fight call for a title shot was hard to argue with.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, February 26, 2022
📍 Venue: UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, USA (UFC Vegas 49)
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 60)
🏆 Main Event: Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green — Catchweight 160 lbs (5 rounds) | Green replaced injured Dariush on 2 weeks’ notice
✅ Result: Islam Makhachev def. Bobby Green via TKO (Punches) (Round 1, 3:23)
⭐ Notable: Makhachev’s 10th consecutive win | First UFC catchweight headliner in 5+ years | Green on 2-week short notice
The Build-Up
Islam Makhachev entered FN 202 as arguably the most in-form lightweight in the world outside of Charles Oliveira. He had won nine consecutive fights, each more dominant than the last, and the Beneil Dariush matchup had been one of the most anticipated at lightweight in years. When Dariush was injured, the UFC needed a replacement in a hurry.
Bobby Green accepted on just two weeks’ notice — he had fought Nasrat Haqparast on February 12, 2022, and was now walking into a fight with one of the sport’s most dangerous grapplers 14 days later. The fight was made at 160 lbs (Makhachev came in at 160, Green at 158) — a catchweight that made this the UFC’s first catchweight-headlined event in over five years. Green’s willingness earned him significant respect from the MMA community.
Main Event: Makhachev vs. Green
The fight followed the exact template Makhachev’s team had designed. He secured a takedown early, established full mount, and began raining punches on a Green who had no answer from the bottom. The finish came at 3:23 of round one, with Herb Dean stopping proceedings once it was clear Green could not escape the position.
Post-fight, Makhachev was unambiguous: “I just want a title fight. I’m ready, I’m here. Just tell me where and when.” After ten consecutive wins against an array of legitimate opponents, the argument for giving him Charles Oliveira was nearly impossible to rebut. He would get his title shot at UFC 280 in October 2022.
Co-Main & Undercard Highlights
Wellington Turman submitted Misha Cirkunov with an armbar at 1:29 of round two, earning a Performance of the Night bonus. Turman’s patient grappling game was on full display, and the armbar finish was clean and decisive.
Arman Tsarukyan stopped Joel Alvarez by TKO in round two, earning the other PoN bonus. The Fight of the Night went to Priscila Cachoeira vs. Ji Yeon Kim — a women’s flyweight war that both fighters walked away from battered but standing.
Full Results
Main Card
Islam Makhachev def. Bobby Green — TKO (Punches) (Round 1, 3:23) | 160-lb catchweight | 10-fight win streak | Makhachev at 160; Green at 158
Wellington Turman def. Misha Cirkunov — Submission (Armbar) (Round 2, 1:29) — Performance of the Night
Priscila Cachoeira def. Ji Yeon Kim — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00) | 29-28 x3 — Fight of the Night
Arman Tsarukyan def. Joel Alvarez — TKO (Punches) (Round 2, 1:57) — Performance of the Night
Armen Petrosyan def. Gregory Rodrigues — Decision (Split) (Round 3, 5:00) | 28-29, 29-28, 30-27
Preliminary Card
Ignacio Bahamondes def. Rong Zhu — Submission R3, 1:40 | Rong Zhu missed weight (40% purse forfeiture); Terrance McKinney def. Fares Ziam — Sub R1, 2:11; Jonathan Martinez def. Alejandro Perez — UD R3; Josiane Nunes def. Ramona Pascual — UD (30-27 x2, 30-26) R3; Ramiz Brahimaj def. Micheal Gillmore — Sub R1, 2:02; Carlos Hernandez def. Victor Altamirano — SD R3 — Prelim Card
Bonuses & Awards
🥊 Fight of the Night: Priscila Cachoeira vs. Ji Yeon Kim ($50,000 each)
🏆 Performance of the Night: Wellington Turman ($50,000) — Armbar of Cirkunov R2, 1:29
🏆 Performance of the Night: Arman Tsarukyan ($50,000) — TKO of Joel Alvarez R2, 1:57
Records & Milestones
🥊 Makhachev’s win extended his active winning streak to 10 — the longest current streak in the lightweight division and one of the longest in the UFC at the time. His path to the title through FN 202 had taken him from lower-ranked competition all the way to dismantling top-10 opponents with minimal difficulty.
🥊 FN 202 was the UFC’s first catchweight main event in over five years. The circumstances that created it — a late Dariush injury and a willing Green stepping in on two weeks’ notice — made the booking one of the sport’s better examples of a fighter showing courage.
🥊 Rong Zhu missed weight on the prelims and forfeited 40% of his purse to opponent Ignacio Bahamondes. Bahamondes went on to win the fight by submission, adding financial insult to the weight miss.
Legacy & Impact
UFC Fight Night 202 is primarily remembered as the final stepping stone on Islam Makhachev’s path to the UFC Lightweight Championship. Every one of his defenses of his position in the conversation — every opponent managed, every short-notice replacement absorbed — was a further chapter in his climb. Bobby Green’s courage in accepting was as notable as the result itself.
Makhachev would go on to win the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 280 in October 2022, stopping Charles Oliveira by second-round armbar. FN 202 was one of the final proofs of concept before the sport accepted his inevitability.
FAQ
Why was the main event at 160 lbs instead of 155?
Beneil Dariush was injured and could not fight Makhachev. Bobby Green, who had fought just two weeks prior, agreed to step in on extremely short notice. Given the short preparation time, the UFC agreed to a 160-lb catchweight rather than requiring Green to cut to 155. Makhachev came in at 160 lbs, Green at 158 lbs.
Did Makhachev get the title shot he requested?
Yes. Makhachev received a lightweight title shot against Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi in October 2022. He stopped Oliveira by armbar in round two to become the UFC Lightweight Champion, fulfilling the demand he made post-fight at FN 202.
What made Bobby Green’s acceptance of the fight notable?
Green had fought Nasrat Haqparast on February 12, 2022 — just 14 days before FN 202. Accepting a fight with the fourth-ranked lightweight contender on two weeks’ notice, while still recovering from a recent bout, represented exactly the kind of fight-taking willingness the UFC values most. Green earned significant goodwill from fans and the promotion despite the loss.
Who is Arman Tsarukyan and what was notable about his FN 202 performance?
Arman Tsarukyan is an Armenian-born lightweight who had previously fought Makhachev in his UFC debut (losing by decision). His TKO of Joel Alvarez at FN 202 was part of a run that was building him into a top-5 lightweight contender. His credentials — including that close early-career loss to the same Makhachev who had just demolished Green — made him an increasingly compelling storyline.
Who was originally booked for the FN 202 main event?
Beneil Dariush was booked to face Makhachev in what would have been one of the most anticipated lightweight matchups of 2022. Dariush was ranked #3 at lightweight, had a 5-fight winning streak, and was considered by many the stiffest test available for Makhachev outside a title fight. His injury robbed fans of a fascinating matchup that was eventually rescheduled for a later date.
References
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