UFC 291: Poirier vs Gaethje 2
UFC 291 event is UFC’s ninth PPV event in 2023. The event took place on July 29, 2023, in Salt Lake City, UT, and was headlined by Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 2 bout.
Event Info
FIGHT CARD
MAIN CARD
Main Event: Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje
- Result: Justin Gaethje won via KO(head-kick) at 1:00 of round 2
- Division/title: Lightweight (BMF championship bout)
- Referee: Herb Dean
- Weight: Dustin Poirier (155 lbs), Justin Gaethje (156 lbs)
- More Details | Live Blog
Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira
- Result: Alex Pereira won via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Division/title: Light heavyweight
- Referee: Marc Goddard
- Weight: Jan Blachowicz (205 lbs), Alex Pereira (205.5 lbs)
- Live Blog
Derrick Lewis vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
- Result: Derrick Lewis won via TKO(punches) at 0:33 of round 1
- Division/title: Heavyweight
- Referee: Dan Miragliotta
- Weight: Derrick Lewis (263.5 lbs), Marcos Rogerio de Lima (262 lbs)
- Live BLog
Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green
- Result: Bobby Green won via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:54 of round 3
- Division/title: Lightweight
- Referee: Dan Miragliotta
- Weight: Tony Ferguson (155 lbs), Bobby Green (155.5 lbs)
- Live Blog
Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Holland
- Result: Kevin Holland won via submission (D’Arce choke) at 2:39 of round 1
- Division/title: Welterweight
- Referee: Marc Goddard
- Weight: Michael Chiesa (170 lbs), Kevin Holland (169.5 lbs)
PRELIMS CARD
Trevin Giles vs Gabriel Bonfim
- Result: Gabriel Bonfim won via Submission(Guillotine Choke) at 1:13 of Round 1
- Division/title: Welterweight
- Referee: Herb Dean
- Weight: Trevin Giles (170 lbs), Gabriel Bonfim (170 lbs)
CJ Vergara vs Vinicius Salvador
- Result: CJ Vergara won via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Division/title: Catchweight (128.5 lbs)
- Referee: Dave Seljestad
- Weight: CJ Vergara (125.5 lbs), Vinicius Salvador (128.5 lbs)
- More Details
Roman Kopylov vs Claudio Ribeiro
- Result: Roman Kopylov won via KO(head-kick) at 0:33 of round 2
- Division/title: Middleweight
- Referee: Marc Goddard
- Weight: Roman Kopylov (185 lbs), Claudio Ribeiro (185.5 lbs)
Jake Matthews vs Darrius Flowers
- Result: Jake Matthews won via submission(rear-naked choke) at 2:37 of round 2
- Division/title: Welterweight
- Referee: Tyler Tomlinson
- Weight: Jake Matthews (170 lbs), Darrius Flowers (170.5 lbs)
EARLY PRELIMS CARD
Matthew Semelsberger vs Uros Medic
- Result: Uros Medic won via TKO(ground & pound) at 2:36 of round 3
- Division/title: Welterweight
- Referee: Tyler Tomlinson
- Weight: Matthew Semelsberger (169.5 lbs), Uros Medic (170.5 lbs)
Miranda Maverick vs Priscila Cachoeira
- Result: Miranda Maverick won via submission(armbar) at 2:11 of Round 3
- Division/title: Women’s Flyweight
- Referee: Dave Saljestad
- Weight: Miranda Maverick (125.5 lbs), Priscila Cachoeira (125 lbs)
EVENT NOTES
It was reported that UFC would return to London, UK, for a second PPV this year in UFC 291 on July 22 with UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards in the headliner. However, Edwards later said that he would fight at UFC 294 instead. Dana White also confirmed that July 22 event in London was changed into a Fight Night.
UFC announced on May 16, 2023 that UFC 291 would take place on July 29 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT. UFC also held UFC 278 event in August 2022 at the same location.
The promotion announced the complete main card for UFC 291 on May 16. A lightweight rematch between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje was announced to headline the event.
Stephen Thompson vs Michel Pereira bout was earlier reported to take place at UFC 289. However, the contracts were only signed for UFC 291 PPV. The bout was scrapped after Pereira missed weight.
Canceled or Postponed Bouts
- Matthew Semelsberger vs Yohan Lainesse (Lainesse withdrew due to an undisclosed reason)
- Joanne Wood vs Priscila Cachoeira (Wood withdrew due to undisclosed reason)
- Jake Matthews vs Miguel Baeza (Baeza withdrew due to an undisclosed reason)
- Paulo Costa vs. Ikram Aliskerov (Costa moved to UFC 294 against Khamzat and Aliskerov also moved to the same event against Nassourdine Imavov)
- Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson vs. Michel Pereira (Pereira Missed weight)
Debuts
- Darrius Flowers
PERFORMANCE BONUSES
The following fighters earned $50,000 bonus in performance bonus-
- Performance of the Night – Justin Gaethje, Derrick Lewis, Kevin Holland, Bobby Green
