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 05:47 · Alex Pattle]

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

So... In October, Islam Mackhaev defends the lightweight title against Charles Oliveira.

Gaethje will surely be next for the winner of that rematch, which will take place almost exactly a year after Makhachev submitted Oliveira in the same building – the Etihad Arena.

[30 July 2023 05:41 · Alex Pattle]

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

[30 July 2023 05:33 · Alex Pattle]

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

Gaethje: “Call it luck maybe, I’m down with it.”

[30 July 2023 05:33 · Alex Pattle]

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

Gaethje: “That’s so crazy, I surprised the s*** out of myself.”

[30 July 2023 05:32 · Alex Pattle]

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

Gaethje on Poirier: “That man taught me a lesson [in the first fight], and I thank him for it.”

[30 July 2023 05:31 · Alex Pattle]

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

Gaethje: “I hope I just inspired you [all], that’s what I’m here for.”

[30 July 2023 05:30 · Alex Pattle]

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

The way Poirier fell was so similar to how Usman fell last year.

Justin Gaethje def. Dustin Poirier via second-round KO (head kick, 1:00).

And new ‘BMF’ of the UFC...

[30 July 2023 05:28 · Alex Pattle]

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

Poirier quickly regains his senses and is thankfully okay, but he was out cold for a moment there.

Almost a year on from Leon Edwards’s iconic head-kick knockout of Kamaru Usman, Usman’s teammate Justin Gaethje produces a similar finish in the very same building.

What a wild moment.

[30 July 2023 05:26 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 2

Round 2

Again Poirier presses forward. Gaethje ducks his head and wings a hook, as he so often does, but to no avail.

OH, MY GOODNESS!!! GAETHJE KNOCKS POIRIER OUT COLD WITH A HEAD KICK!

[30 July 2023 05:24 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 291: Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 2

Round 1

Clean left cross from Poirier, and Gaethje doesn’t like that; his eye is bothering him.

OH! Another shot from Poirier, and Gaethje stumbles back. Is the tide turning in this round?

Right hook from Poirier! Low kick by Gaethje. Again.

Poirier blocks a head kick then eats a leg kick.

A really good round for Gaethje, although Poirier grew into it.