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 03:04 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Prelim results in full

Here are the prelim results from this evening:

Gabriel Bonfim vs. Trevin Giles via first-round submission (guillotine choke, 1:13)

CJ Vergara def. Vinicius Salvador via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Roman Kopylov def. Claudio Ribeiro via second-round KO (0:33)

Jake Matthews def. Darrius Flowers via second-round submission (rear naked choke, 2:37)

Uros Medic def. Matthew Semelsberger via third-round TKO (2:36)

Miranda Maverick def. Priscila Cachoeira via third-round submission (armbar, 2:11)

[30 July 2023 03:02 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Main card under way

Our live coverage begins in full now, as the UFC 291 main card gets under way!

[30 July 2023 02:55 · Lawrence Ostlere]

UFC 291: Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje betting tips and preview

Here are your betting tips for the main event:

[30 July 2023 02:46 · Lawrence Ostlere]

UFC 291 LIVE: Poirier vs Gaethje – what is the 'Bad Motherf*****’ title?

The UFC’s ‘BMF’ title will make its return tonight as Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje clash in the main event of UFC 291.

Poirier beat Gaethje via TKO in 2018, and the Americans will square off again in Utah, with the ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ title on the line.

The UFC introduced the belt in 2019 as a prize for the winner of a fight between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, with the latter winning via doctor stoppage. WWE star-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson then wrapped the gold around Masvidal’s waist.

The title has not been involved in any fights since then, and Masvidal retired from mixed martial arts last month after a loss to Gilbert Burns. The UFC is now reintroducing the belt, which will be up for grabs when Poirier and Gaethje meet in a lightweight bout on 29 July.

Dustin Poirier (left) and Justin Gaethje will clash in a rematch from 2018 (Getty Images)

[30 July 2023 02:32 · Lawrence Ostlere]

UFC 291 LIVE: Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira

The co-main event tonight sees Jan Blachowicz fight Alex Pereira at light-heavyweight.

Polish fighter Blachowicz, 40, is a former light-heavyweight champion with a record of 29-9-1.

Pereira, the Brazilian ex-kickboxer, is former middleweight champion making his debut in light-heavyweight division.

The light-heavyweight title was vacated this month when champion Jamahal Hill injured his ankle (full story below) and the winner of this contest could fight for the vacant title next.

[30 July 2023 02:23 · Lawrence Ostlere]

UFC rankings: The Independent’s pound-for-pound fighters list

The UFC is home to some of the best mixed martial artists on the planet, so it is no surprise that fans often debate how the elite fighters compare to one another.

Alongside its weekly-updated rankings for each weight class, the UFC has its own pound-for-pound rankings, containing 15 names – as with each list for every division.

Here, The Independent has constructed its own top 10, pound-for-pound rankings for men’s UFC fighters, to be updated throughout the year.

While there is no exact science to putting together lists such as this, a number of factors have been considered in making the rankings, including each fighter’s overall record, recent record, level of activity and calibre of opposition.

[30 July 2023 02:12 · Lawrence Ostlere]

UFC 291 LIVE: Poirier vs Gaethje – how to watch

The card will air live on TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights.

In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.

[30 July 2023 01:54 · Lawrence Ostlere]

McGregor Forever: The problem with the Conor McGregor documentary

The Independent’s Alex Pattle recently reviewed the Conor McGregor documentary:

[30 July 2023 01:41 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Makhachev vs Oliveira official for UFC 294 as Khamzat Chimaev returns on undercard

Islam Makhachev will defend his lightweight title against Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 294, after Khamzat Chimaev makes his return against Paulo Costa.

Makhachev won the vacant lightweight title by submitting Oliveira in Abu Dhabi last October, and now the pair will return to the scene of that fight almost exactly one year on, as they headline at the Etihad Arena again.

Russian Makhachev, 31, has since retained the belt against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, beating the Australian with a narrow decision in February. Meanwhile, Brazilian Oliveira bounced back from his loss to Makhachev by stopping Beneil Dariush in the first round in June.

[30 July 2023 01:24 · Lawrence Ostlere]

UFC 291 LIVE: Poirier vs Gaethje

Main card

Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 2 (lightweight – vacant ‘BMF’ title)

Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira (light-heavyweight)

Stephen Thompson vs Michel Pereira (welterweight)

Tony Ferguson vs Bobby Green (lightweight)

Michael Chiesa vs Kevin Holland (welterweight)

Prelims

Trevin Giles vs Gabriel Bonfim (welterweight)

Derrick Lewis vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima (heavyweight)

Roman Kopylov vs Claudio Ribeiro (middleweight)

Jake Matthews vs Miguel Baeza (welterweight)

Early prelims

CJ Vergara vs Vinicius Salvador (flyweight)

Matthew Semelsberger vs Yohan Lainesse (welterweight)

Miranda Maverick vs Priscila Cachoeira (women’s flyweight)