During the UFC 300 Post-Fight Press Conference on April 13, UFC CEO Dana White announced that a bout between former middleweight champion Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa would serve as the UFC 302 co-main event.  

Costa (14-3) has lost three of his last four fights and is coming off a loss to former titleholder Robert Whittaker in his last outing in February.  Strickland (28-6) was defeated by Dricus Du Plessis via split decision in his last bout in January.  For months Strickland has lobbied for an immediate rematch, but agreed to faced Costa next after meeting with the fight promotion.  

On Wednesday, Strickland vowed to make that 'dirty Brazilian' bleed on June 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.  

"You know, you guys, I like Costa.  He's a funny guy.  He makes me laugh.  He's pro-free speech.  I like that guy," said Strickland in a video.  "But I'm going to make that dirty Brazilian bleed.  I'm going to do it for Brazil because Brazil doesn't even like Costa.  So, hey, Brazil, this is for you guys.  Let's get it done."

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UFC 302 is headlined by a lightweight title bout between champion Islam Makhachev and fourth-ranked Dustin Poirier.  Makhachev (25-1) is coming off back-to-back wins over former featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski.  Poirier (30-8, 1NC) will entered the championship match coming off a knockout win over Benoît Saint Denis.