Justin Gaethje claimed revenge over Dustin Poirier with a spectacular second-round knockout in the lightweight main event of UFC 291 at the Delta Centre in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday morning.
Gaethje had been stopped by Poirier when the two first met in a Fight Night in April of 2018, but this time around ‘The Highlight’ got the better of the exchanges thanks to a devastating head kick one minute into the second round. Gaethje set up the opening for the kick with a big overhand that distracted Poirier, before a right high kick that landed with enough force to knock ‘The Diamond’ out cold.
JUSTIN GAETHJE KO's POIRIER BY HEAD KICK ??
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
WE HAVE A NEW BMF #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/eUunAPoHnO
With the victory, Gaethje moved to 25-4 in his career, claimed the symbolic BMF belt, and has put himself very much in the conversation for the lightweight championship, currently held by Islam Makhachev.
“Unlike any other sport on earth, you rarely get a chance at redemption," Gaethje said in his post-fight intervidew. "We take a loss and it just sits with us and eats away. We usually don't get another chance so to come back and prove myself, I believed in myself the whole time.”
The rest of the main featured an impressive debut at light heavyweight for former middleweight champion Alex Pereira, who claimed a split decision win over Jan Blachowicz; Derrick Lewis recorded a spectacular first-round stoppage of Marcos Rogerio in the heavyweight division; Bobby Green submitted fellow lightweight Tony Ferguson; and the welterweight opener saw Kevin Holland claim a first-round submission of Michael Chiesa.
The UFC continues next Sunday, 6 August, with a Fight Night at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville headlined by a catchweight (140 lb) clash between Cory Sandhagen and Rob Font.
UFC 291 – Main cards results
- Main event: Lightweight: Justin Gaethje def. Justin Poirier via KO (head kick), R2, 1:00
- Co-main: Light heavyweight: Alex Pereira def. Jan Blachowicz via split decision (29-28 28-29 29-28), R3, 5:00
- Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima via TKO (knee and punches), R1, 0:33
- Lightweight: Bobby Green def. Tony Ferguson via technical submission (arm-triangle choke), R3, 4:54
- Welterweight: Kevin Holland def. Michael Chiesa via submission (brabo choke), R1, 2:39