Read about Justin Gaethje’s stunning knockout victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 291. Gaethje’s redemption and potential title bout. Fight results and event highlights.
Justin Gaethje delivered a stunning knockout victory over Dustin Poirier in the main event lightweight bout at UFC 291. Gaethje’s perfectly timed head kick in the second round secured his redemption after a previous loss to Poirier in 2018. The third-ranked Gaethje celebrated his win with a backflip off the Octagon fence, marking his 20th knockout or TKO win and his seventh victory in his last nine fights.
Gaethje’s Redemption
Gaethje expressed his excitement about the chance at redemption, stating that it motivated him to work harder and be ready for the fight. He was surprised by his own performance and how well he fought against Poirier. The victory also earned Gaethje a BMF belt, making him the second UFC fighter to receive this honor.
Potential Title Bout
With his win over Poirier, Gaethje now has the opportunity for a potential title bout against the winner of Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira, who are set to fight at UFC 294 in October. This victory opens the door for Gaethje to compete for the lightweight championship.
Other Bouts
The main card of UFC 291 featured several exciting bouts. Alex Pereira defeated Jan Blachowicz in a light heavyweight bout by split decision, earning his eighth win in his last nine fights. Derrick Lewis secured a record-breaking 14th knockout win over Marcos Rogerio de Lima in just 33 seconds of the first round. Bobby Green defeated Tony Ferguson by submission via choke with only six seconds left in the third round of their lightweight bout. Kevin Holland made quick work of Michael Chiesa in the welterweight bout, winning by submission in the first round.
Attendance and Record
The event took place in Utah and attracted notable figures such as Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith, Jazz coach Will Hardy, and former Jazz stars Deron Williams and Karl Malone. The live gate for UFC 291 reached $6.5 million, breaking the previous venue record. The sellout crowd of 18,467 witnessed an action-packed night of fights.
| Fight Results |
|---|
| Justin Gaethje def. Dustin Poirier |
| Alex Pereira def. Jan Blachowicz |
| Derrick Lewis def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima |
| Bobby Green def. Tony Ferguson |
| Kevin Holland def. Michael Chiesa |
