You remember that feeling when Leon Edwards landed the kick heard 'round the world against Kamaru Usman? Salt Lake City clearly has some kind of high-altitude magic for head kicks. When the UFC 291 fight card was first announced, we all knew it was going to be violent. But honestly, nobody expected a literal carbon copy of the Edwards finish to happen in the main event.
Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier are the kind of fighters who make you nervous just watching them walk to the cage. They had fought years prior in a 2018 classic that Poirier won, leaving Gaethje with a lot to prove. By the time July 29, 2023, rolled around, the stakes were weirdly high for a "symbolic" belt. The BMF title was on the line, but for these two, it was really about who still belonged at the very top of the shark tank that is the 155-pound division.
The Night "The Highlight" Became the BMF
Let’s get straight to the point. The main event was a masterclass in tactical aggression. Most people expected a five-round war of attrition, similar to their first meeting. Instead, Gaethje showed us a version of himself that was remarkably calm. He wasn't just throwing haymakers. He was measuring.
The end came just one minute into the second round. Gaethje hid a massive right high kick behind a straight right hand. It was beautiful. It was terrifying. Poirier, who usually has an iron-clad defense, leaned right into it. The sound of the impact echoed through the Delta Center, and just like that, "The Highlight" was the new BMF champion.
It wasn't just about the belt, though. That win catapulted Gaethje back into the title conversation. It also proved that at 34, he’d actually improved his technical game rather than just relying on his chin.
What Really Happened on the UFC 291 Fight Card
While the head kick got the headlines, the rest of the UFC 291 fight card was a wild ride from the early prelims to the co-main. We saw legends looking a bit long in the tooth and new stars making massive statements.
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Alex Pereira made his light heavyweight debut that night. He went up against Jan Błachowicz, a man known for his "Legendary Polish Power." It was a grueling, altitude-affected fight. Jan tried to grapple the life out of "Poatan" in the first round, but Pereira survived. By the third, Jan was gassed. Pereira walked away with a split decision win (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), proving he could handle the extra 20 pounds of muscle and still keep that scary "touch of death" in his left hook.
The Black Beast and the Crotch Chop
Derrick Lewis is a treasure. Coming off a three-fight losing streak, people were starting to wonder if the "Black Beast" was done. He responded by running across the Octagon and landing a flying knee on Marcos Rogério de Lima in roughly one second.
The fight lasted only 33 seconds. Lewis finished him with ground and pound, then proceeded to strip off his shorts and give the Utah crowd exactly what they wanted: pure, unadulterated Derrick Lewis energy. It was his 14th knockout in the UFC, a record that still feels untouchable.
The Sad Reality for Tony Ferguson
We have to talk about Tony Ferguson. It’s hard to watch a legend struggle, and UFC 291 was another tough chapter. He faced Bobby "King" Green in a fight that many hoped would be his "get right" moment.
Tony actually looked decent early on, landing a solid shot that dropped Green. But as the fight progressed, Green’s speed and volume just took over. The end was grim. Green locked in an arm-triangle choke, and Tony refused to tap, eventually going unconscious at 4:54 of the third round. It was his sixth straight loss, and it sparked a lot of "should he retire?" conversations that are still happening today.
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Breaking Down the Full Results
If you missed the broadcast, the sheer number of finishes was staggering. Here is how the rest of the night shook out across the board:
- Kevin Holland demolished Michael Chiesa with a D'Arce choke in the first round. Holland looked huge at welterweight and his grappling was surprisingly slick.
- Gabriel Bonfim kept his hype train moving by submitting Trevin Giles with a guillotine in just over a minute.
- CJ Vergara took a unanimous decision over Vinicius Salvador in a back-and-forth flyweight scrap.
- Roman Kopylov landed a nasty head kick of his own, knocking out Claudio Ribeiro in the second round.
- Jake Matthews used his veteran savvy to submit Darrius Flowers via rear-naked choke.
- Uroš Medić pulled off a stunning TKO win over Matthew Semelsberger, finishing him with a spinning backfist in the third.
- Miranda Maverick opened the night by dominating Priscila Cachoeira on the ground, eventually securing an armbar in the final round.
Why This Event Was a Financial Monster
The UFC doesn't go to Salt Lake City often, but when they do, the city shows up. The event drew a sellout crowd of 18,467 fans. The gate was a massive $6,556,443.97, which shattered the previous record for the Delta Center.
Dana White and the promotion were clearly happy, even if some of the fighters struggled with the thin air. The altitude in Utah is roughly 4,200 feet above sea level. You could see it affecting guys like Błachowicz and Chiesa, who seemed to hit a wall much earlier than they usually do.
No "Fight of the Night" bonus was awarded, which is rare for such a deep card. Instead, the UFC handed out four "Performance of the Night" bonuses to the guys who got the big finishes:
- Justin Gaethje
- Derrick Lewis
- Bobby Green
- Kevin Holland
Each of these guys took home an extra $50,000.
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Lessons From the Octagon
Looking back at the UFC 291 fight card, there are a few tactical takeaways that still apply to MMA today. First, altitude training is not optional. If you’re fighting in SLC or Denver, you have to get there weeks early or your gas tank will betray you.
Second, the "old guard" is in a precarious spot. Seeing Ferguson and Chiesa struggle against younger, faster opponents showed that the transition of power in the lightweight and welterweight divisions is happening fast.
Lastly, Justin Gaethje’s evolution is a blueprint for every "brawler." He didn't lose his edge; he just sharpened his tools. He stopped being a "crash" fighter and became a "counter" fighter with a sniper’s mentality.
If you're looking to re-watch some high-level violence, go back and check out the Kopylov and Gaethje head kicks. They are essentially textbook examples of how to set up high strikes in a high-pressure environment. For those looking to keep up with current rankings, Gaethje's win that night remains one of the most significant data points in the current 155-lb title picture.
To stay ahead of the game, keep an eye on the upcoming schedules for both Gaethje and Pereira. Both men used this specific card as a springboard to massive opportunities, with Pereira eventually moving on to claim the vacant 205-lb gold later that year. The ripple effects of this one night in Utah are still being felt across two different weight classes.
Next Steps for MMA Fans:
- Watch the Replay: If you have UFC Fight Pass, the Kopylov vs. Ribeiro finish is worth a second look just for the technical setup.
- Track the Rankings: Compare the lightweight rankings from July 2023 to today to see how the landscape shifted after the Gaethje-Poirier result.
- Study the Stats: Check the significant strike accuracy of Gabriel Bonfim; he remains one of the most efficient finishers on the roster since this performance.