UFC 291 LIVE: Justin Gaethje knocks out Dustin Poirier with head kick

Re-live updates from the ‘BMF’ title fight, a long-awaited rematch that topped a stacked card in Utah

MMA fighter Tom Aspinall sings 'Sweet Caroline' at UFC London

Justin Gaethje knocked Dustin Poirier out cold with a stunning head kick on Saturday, winning their rematch at UFC 291 and claiming the ‘BMF’ title.

Five years after suffering a TKO loss to Poirier, Gaethje looked a completely different fighter against his fellow American, getting the better of most exchanges in Round 1. Gaethje, widely deemed the most exciting athlete in the UFC, then dropped Poirier with a clean head kick in Round 2 to end the fight abruptly.

In doing so, the lightweight won the ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ belt, a gimmick title previously seen in 2019 when Jorge Masvidal beat Nate Diaz to become the inaugural champion.

In the co-main event, former middleweight champion Alex Pereira moved up to light-heavyweight and outpointed Jan Blachowicz, an ex-title holder in the division.

Re-live updates and results from UFC 291, below.

UFC 291 LIVE: Poirier vs Gaethje

• Justin Gaethje knocks Dustin Poirier out cold with head kick to win ‘BMF’ belt
• Alex Pereira narrowly outpoints Jan Blachowicz in co-main event
• Derrick Lewis scores early KO of Marcos Rogerio de Lima after flying knee
• Tony Ferguson’s losing streak goes on with submission defeat by Bobby Green
• Michael Chiesa suffers tough return with submission loss to Kevin Holland
• Gaethje and Poirier share wholesome backstage moment after KO
• Gaethje reacts to Conor McGregor callout after main-event win

[30 July 2023 05:21 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 2

Round 1

Poirier stands southpaw as usual; Gaethje is orthodox. Hard outside low kick by Gaethje, and Poirier responds with a body kick.

This event is taking place at altitude, which Gaethje is used to from his training sessions. Will that help him tonight?

Good right overhand from Gaethje! A right cross is just out of range for Poirier.

Gaethje lands a hook to the body then connects upstairs. Stabbing front kick to the body from Gaethje, who then eats a body kick from Poirier.

Cross lands for Gaethje. Still, it’s Poirier who is pressing forward. Good right hook from Gaethje!

[30 July 2023 05:17 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 2

Here we go! Five rounds of violence scheduled. How many will we get?

Let’s find out...

[30 July 2023 05:07 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 2

Poirier beat Gaethje via fourth-round TKO in 2018, and the pair’s careers followed similar trajectories in the time since. Poirier, 34, won the interim lightweight title in 2019 but failed to unify the belt against Khabib Nurmagomedov, losing to the Russsian via submission; Gaethje, 34, then collected the interim gold in 2020 but was also submitted by Khabib.

Each man then got a second crack at the gold but came up short again, with Poirier submitted by Charles Oliveira in 2021 and Gaethje suffering the same fate last May. However, Poirier and Gaethje have both bounced back since then, with the former stopping Michael Chandler and the latter beating Rafael Fiziev.

And when Poirier and Gaethje rematch tonight, the ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ belt will be up for grabs. The title has only appeared once before, when Jorge Masvidal beat Nate Diaz to become the inaugural champion in 2019.

[30 July 2023 05:02 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 2

Next up, the main event... Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 2.

This one could be fight of the night; most people would bet on that.

[30 July 2023 04:58 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira def. Jan Blachowicz via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

A close fight, but 29-28 to Pereira is just about the right scoreline, as Indy Sport sees it.

A successful divisional debut for the Brazilian at light-heavyweight.

[30 July 2023 04:54 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira

Round 3

Both fighters land straight punches and left hooks.

Pereira hasn’t quite been able to inject his usual power into his left hooks, but they’ve still landed clean numerous times tonight.

Blachowicz with a single-leg takedown late in the round! Pereira goes down easily!

We’ll go to the judges’ scorecards.

[30 July 2023 04:52 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira

Round 3

More leg kicks from Pereira, whose team have told him that Blachowicz’s lead leg is hurting.

Blachowicz is able to propel himself into a combination, though, which backs up Pereira.

Blachowicz grapples Pereira again, but only briefly.

[30 July 2023 04:49 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira

Round 2

Pereira makes it back to his feet, but he’s being held against the fence by Blachowicz.

Pereira gets free and starts walking down Blachowicz. More low kicks from the Brazilian.

Now some good straight shots from Pereira! Blachowicz is just shelling up right now... He gets Pereira off him with a couple of punches, before retreating at the end of the round.

Pereira is showing more signs of what he can do.

[30 July 2023 04:46 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira

Round 2

Both guys feel each other out on the feet. Low kicks from both fighters.

Blachowicz with a perfectly-timed takedown now! He lands the double-leg and is straight into Pereira’s guard.

Blachowicz sneaks in a few punches from above.

[30 July 2023 04:42 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira

Round 1

Pereira does well to just about defend the choke, but Blachowicz is still weighing down on the Brazilian kickboxing icon.

Blachowicz was submitted by Pereira’s teammate Glover Teixeira last year, but Teixeira’s grappling skills are on a totally different level to Pereira’s.