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
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: Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira
Round 1
Blachowicz shoots for a takedown early, backing Pereira up to the fence and working on getting him down.
Pereira has the former champion’s neck and is threatening a guillotine to deter the Pole, but Blachowicz eventually gets Pereira down...
Blachowicz has already taken the back and is working on a rear naked choke...
UFC 291: Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira
Here we go! This should be fun...
UFC 291: Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira
Next up, the co-main event: Former light-heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz takes on Alex Pereira, who is moving up to 205lbs after losing the middleweight title in April.
Lots of people are expecting a knockout here, given Blachowicz’s “legendary Polish power” and Pereira’s signature left hook.
UFC 291: Derrick Lewis vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Derrick Lewis def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima via first-round TKO 0:33, knee and punches).
That’s a record 14th UFC knockout for Lewis, who whips off his shorts in celebration. On commentary, Joe Rogan is in hysterics.
Lewis throws his cup... and gloves into the crowd.
Did you plan to open on that knee, Rogan asks him; “Hell no. I just thought, ‘Let’s throw some bulls*** and see what happens.’”
UFC 291: Derrick Lewis vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Round 1
OH! Lewis with a huge flying knee right out the gate!
De Lima hits the mat and pours on punches, and the fight is waved off!
What did we say?! This one was never likely to last long!
UFC 291: Derrick Lewis vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Next up, Derrick Lewis vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima has been bumped up from the prelims.
This one is a heavyweight affair, and there’s a good chance it doesn’t last until the final buzzer...
UFC 291: Tony Ferguson vs Bobby Green
Ferguson’s 12-fight win streak has given way to a six-fight losing streak.
UFC 291: Tony Ferguson vs Bobby Green
Bobby Green def. Tony Ferguson via third-round submission (arm-triangle choke, 4:54).
UFC 291: Tony Ferguson vs Bobby Green
Round 3
The fight his the mat, and Green swiftly moves into half-guard...
Oh, wow! He locks in an arm-triangle choke... and Ferguson is OUT!!
Green via submission would have paid off big time if you’d put money on it!
UFC 291: Tony Ferguson vs Bobby Green
Round 3
Ferguson is dropped to his backside, bounces back up and eats another hard shot.
Green jabs to the body then grazes Ferguson with a wide overhand right. Another jab to the body.
Now he jabs upstairs, a rapid shot, before landing a one-two.
Ferguson is backing up Green and landing intermittently, but he’s absorbing a lot of straight punches, too.
Oh, Green drops Ferguson again! Once more, the former interim champ springs back to his feet.
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