UFC 291 went down Saturday night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Justin Gaethje avenged his 2018 Fight of the Year TKO loss to Dustin Poirier with a highlight head kick knockout to take the BMF title. In the co-main event, Alex Pereira made his light heavyweight debut against former champion Jan Blachowicz by claiming a narrow split decision victory that likely should put him in line for a shot at the vacant light heavyweight title. Read on for a recap of the main card's fights.
Justin Gaethje Lands Vicious Head Kick to Knockout Dustin Poirier
Justin Gaethje is the new BMF after landing a beautiful head kick that should contend for knockout of the year. The opening frame was close as both men had moments landing hard shots.
The fighters traded leg kicks early in the round. After Poirier backed Gaethje up to the fence, Gaethje charged forward landing a hard right hand followed by a solid left. Throughout the round Poirier landed several solid body kicks as Gaethje continued to have success with leg kicks.
Poirier pressed forward with pressure throughout the first round and Gaethje landed a hard right hand as Poirier entered the pocket midway through the round. Moments later, Poirier attacked with a straight left hand that had Gaethje backing up and blinking his left eye several times. Then another hard straight left hand from Poirier, this time to the chest, once more had Gaethje backing up.
Poirier continued having success as he landed a hard right hand after stepping in and missing a lead rear-hand. Shortly after, Gaethje was bleeding over his left eye. There was furious action to close the round as Gaethje landed a hard right hand that snapped Poirier's head back.
Gaethje opened aggressively in the second round, scoring early with a right to the body immediately followed with a left to the head. Then one minute into the round Gaethje unleashed the head kick that sent Poirier tumbling over sideways and crashing to the canvas. Poirier attempted to block the kick but it wrapped around and connected clean on the side of the head. After Poirier stiffened and fell, with the back of his head bouncing off the canvas, Gaethje moved in quickly and landed a perfectly placed hammer-fist to the forehead before the referee jumped in to stop the fight.
Gaethje called for a title shot after the bout and will almost certainly face the winner of the re-match between current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and former champion Charles Oliveira scheduled for UFC 294 this October in Abu Dhabi.
Alex Pereira Takes Split Decision Over Jan Blachowicz in Light Heavyweight Debut
Alex Pereira was successful in his move up to light heavyweight as he took a split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) over former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz.
Blachowicz clearly won the first round. Just ten seconds into the round the Polish fighter shot on Pereira's right leg as he looked for a high-crotch takedown. Poatan initially defended well and attacked a standing guillotine but Blachowicz never appeared to be in trouble from the submission attempt.
Blachowicz stayed patient with the takedown attempt and was able to complete it with a little over three minutes left in the round. After Pereira tried to stand, Blachowicz jumped on Pereira's back and applied a body triangle. Blachowicz was able to keep the position for the remainder of the round and looked for a rear-naked choke but Pereira defended well and avoided much damage as Blachowicz only landed a few short punches as he mostly looked for the submission.
The first 90 seconds of Round 2 was largely a battle of low leg kicks, with Pereira landing more, as well as the more damaging kicks. Blachowicz had a nice moment when he landed a left hook as he charged forward. Seconds later Blachowicz secured a well-timed takedown off a missed left hook by the Brazilian. Blachowicz was unable to do much damage though as he controlled Pereira for a little over one minute before Pereira worked back to the feet.
For the remainder of the round Pereira attacked with nasty low leg kicks and landed some hard punches as Blachowicz appeared to be exhausted from all of the wrestling. While the second round was close, Pereira rated the edge with the late striking surge.
The final round was another close round, but Pereira once more rated a slight edge landing more strikes and the harder shots. Blachowicz was showing significant damage with a massive and somewhat gruesome knot on his left leg caused by all the leg kicks. Blachowicz landed a takedown with 40 seconds left in the round but did little damage from top position as he clearly was exhausted.
Derrick Lewis Flying Knee Results in Record 14th UFC Knockout Victory
Derrick Lewis is one of a kind. With another highlight reel knockout "The Black Beast" now stands alone atop the UFC's all-time knockout list with fourteen such finishes. Lewis wasted no time as the fight started, charging forward to meet Marcos Rogério de Lima with a jumping switch knee that landed directly on the Brazilian's chin. Incredibly, Rogério de Lima did not go unconscious from the blow, but Lewis was immediately in top position and raining down hard punches.
Rogério de Lima briefly tried to defend by throwing backfists from bottom and then attacking a leg, but one hard right hand from Lewis had the Brazilian immediately covering up. With Lewis continuing to attack with heavy shots from mount, Rogério de Lima turned over to his back and with Lewis standing over him throwing punches there was nothing "Pezão" could do but cover up until the referee called the TKO at just 0:33 of Round 1.
After the fight, Lewis stripped down to his undershorts, reminiscent of his antics at UFC 229. Lewis also entertained the crowd with some fancy footsteps as he danced in his underpants. Lewis said in his post-fight interview that the bout was his last under his current UFC contract and that he hoped to re-sign with the UFC. A fan favorite who likely no longer figures in the heavyweight title picture considering he had lost three straight prior to this bout, here's hoping "The Black Beast" remains with the MMA leader.
Bobby Green Sleeps Tony Ferguson with Third Round Arm Triangle Choke
The calls for Tony Ferguson to call it a career are getting louder as the popular fighter has now lost six consecutive bouts in the UFC. Ferguson started strong against Bobby Green, landing several hard punches. Ferguson dropped Green with a well-timed jab when Green threw an inside leg kick. But it may have been more a result of the timing and Green being off balance as Green immediately popped up and appeared unhurt. As the round progressed, however, it was Green who got the better of the striking exchanges.
Green had a strong second round, repeatedly scoring with lead rear-hand punches. Green repeatedly landed hard hammer-fists after gaining top position when Ferguson missed on an Imanari roll. Green also landed a couple of hard elbows from top position. Green decided to re-set the fight on the feet, letting Ferguson up with 90 seconds left in the round. Ferguson was able to land a couple decent punches but it was Green who landed much more, as well as the harder shots.
Green dominated the striking in Round 3. With a minute left in the fight, Green briefly took Ferguson's back while standing before Ferguson quickly tried to roll into a leglock, leaving Green in top position. Green landed a couple hard hammer-fists before passing to half-guard and positioning himself for an arm triangle. Green then passed to Ferguson's right side, applying incredible pressure that put Ferguson to sleep with six seconds left in the fight.
Kevin Holland Submits Michael Chiesa with First Round D'arce Choke
Kevin Holland looked ready for the takedown from the start and showed improvement in his takedown defense in a dominant first round submission win over Michael Chiesa. After a brief feeling out period, Holland pressured Chiesa to the fence where he landed multiple heavy uppercuts to the body and head as Holland thwarted Chiesa's attempts to drop levels for a takedown shot.
Chiesa tested Holland's takedown defense as he shot for a single leg. Chiesa drove Holland to the fence where he was able to lock his hands around Holland's waist, but "Trailblazer" defended well by standing tall and digging for an underhook to break Chiesa's grip before turning Chiesa on the fence.
With the fighters in the clinch, Chiesa once more looked for a takedown with an inside-out trip but Holland kept his feet. Chiesa then nearly lifted Holland off the mat, but Holland once more kept his balance and stayed upright along the fence before turning his foe's back to the cage and breaking the clinch. Holland then landed a nice jumping knee.
The end came shortly thereafter with what appeared to be another solid knee. Although after the fight, Holland said the knee didn't land. Regardless, after the knee strike Chiesa dropped down to his knees and once more looked to shoot a takedown attempt but Holland quickly applied the D'arce choke. Chiesa briefly tried to defend by rolling to his back bit the choke was tight and Holland produced the quick tap at 2:39 of Round 1.
Chiesa was coming off a nearly two-year layoff and with the loss has now lost three in a row. Holland, one of the most entertaining fighters on the UFC roster, has now won two in a row after losing consecutive bouts to Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson and Khamzat Chimaev. Despite his recent success at welterweight, Holland said in the post-fight interview he doesn't much appreciate cutting weight and intends to head back up to the middleweight division.
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