UFC 291 HIGHLIGHTS, Poirier vs Gaethje 2: Gaethje knocks Poirier out to clinch BMF title; Pereira wins via split decision

Up next, Poirier and Gaethje will collide head-on for the BMF title. This is not the first time that these fighters are facing each other - click here to see what happened when they faced each other, back in 2019

The fighters arrive into the octagon to a rousing reception from the audience at the Delta Center.

Poirier UFC record: 29-7-0

Gaethje UFC record: 24-4-0

Round 1: Low kicks exchanged as the fight starts off aggressively. Gaethje tries a kick to Poirier’s head but it is well defended. The fighters are taking it slow. Understandable given the stature of the fight. Poirier’s jab connects well as Gaethje is left bleeding from a cut above his eyebrows. End of round 1

Round 2: They continue to exchange low kicks. AND GAETHJE DOES IT! KNOCKS POIRIER OUT WITH A POWERFUL KICK TO POIRIER’S HEAD! WHAT A WAY TO CLINCH THE TITLE! GAETHJE FINALLY GETS HIS REVENGE!

This month is for the underdogs. Two weeks back it was Dricus du Plessis’ win against Robert Whittaker, this time it’s Gaethje. No one gave them a chance but they’ve risen above the odds to scale unimaginable heights!

Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz will take on former middleweight champion Alex Pereira, who will make his debut in the divison.

Pereira UFC record: 7-2-0

Blachowicz UFC record: 29-9-1

Round 1: Blachowicz evades a Pereira punch and attempts a takedown, pinning Pereira to a corner. Pereira sees an opening and does a standing guillotine, Blachowicz on the backfoot now. Blachowicz finally breaks the deadlock, taking Pereira down. Second submission attempt from Blachowicz but Pereira doesn’t budge as the round comes to an end

Round 2: Pereira is using Blachowicz’ weapon against him - the leg kicks. Blachowicz evades a punch attemps and takes down Pereira, despite a huge opportunity to assert his dominance via strikes, Blachowicz is fails to capitalise it as he attempts for an outright submission. Wonderful upper cut from Pereira that leaves Blachowicz bleeding. The polish fighter tries to connect punches but the round comes to an end

Round 3: Some back and fourth between the fighters as they throw punches but nothing significant from both the sides. On to the judges now, Blachowicz could have the upper hand, given the way he has dominated so far. But it’s upto the scorers’ discretion, let’s see. WOAH! ALEX PEREIRA TAKES THE FIGHT VIA SPLIT DECISION!

Up next, in the heavyweight division, Derrick ‘The Black Beast’ Lewis will be up against de Lima of Brazil. One might think Lewis is the favourite to win with the most knockout wins in heavyweight history, but his recent form has below-par. He is coming into the fight in a bid to overturn his 3-match losing streak

Round 1: Explosive start from Leiws as he runs towards de Lima, delivers a flying knee that takes him down and follows it up with a string of punches AND THAT DOES IT FOR THE BLACK BEAST AS HE RUNS AWAY WITH YET ANOTHER FIRST ROUND WIN!!! This is his 22nd knockout win, the most by any fighter in UFC history

With 45 matches under his belt, Bobby Green is third on the list of most fights by an active fighter and he will take on compatriot Tony Ferguson in the lightweight division.

Green looks as confident as he can be. He is all pumped up as he enters the octagon with a somersault. Ferguson makes his way into the octagon next, not as nearly as pumped but the former interim lightweight champion looks assertive nonetheless

Round 1 - Green’s attempts at throwing punches fail as Ferguson has been fast on his feet. A superb miss from Ferguson opens an opportunity and he pushes Green to a corner to get a stranglehold of his knee. Green breaks the lock eventually but after a struggle. Stoppage of play as Green accidentally pokes Ferguson’s right eye. After careful evaluation, the fight continues as both fighters test their guard to the fullest. First round comes to a close

Round 2: Green gets the upper hand, as he initiates a takedown and succeeds. He tops it off with consecutive jabs and elbow blows. Ferguson looks totally clueless as he is pinned to a corner. If Green continues this and plays his cards right, then this fight might not cross this round. Ferguson finally breaks the lock. A round that mostly belonged to Green comes to an end. After that eye poke, Ferguson lost control of the fight and that has reflected in his improper guard

Round 3: Green continues to dominate as he counters Ferguson’s kick with ease. Follows it up with a powerful right-arm jab. Looks like Green is taking it slow, knowing that the stats are on his side, But Ferguson, despite being on the back foot all the while, has been at his resilient best, not giving up after being in situations where most other fighters would’ve tapped out. With just 30 seconds on the clock, Green got an opening and put on an arm triangle. Ferguson tried his best to break the lock but finally gets unconcious with eight seconds on the clock! GREEN WALKS AWAY WITH A WELL DESERVED WIN!

First up, it’s the welterweight fight between Kevin Holland and Michael Chiesa

Holland UFC record - 24-9-1

Chiesa UFC record - 18-6-0

Round 1 - Holland starts of with a string of quick jabs as Chiesa’s defense isn’t as efficient as he would’ve liked. Flying knee from Holland out of nowhere, followed by a takedown and a choke. AND THAT IS ENOUGH FOR HIM TO SEAL THE DEAL AS CHIESA TAPS OUT! That’s a whopping 12th first round finish for the 30-year-old.

Holland def. Chiesa via submission: R1 - 2.34

Introduced in UFC 244, backed by president Dana White, Jorge Masvidal beat Nate Diaz in a welterweight bout to claim the BMF belt and the title wasn’t contended till Masvidal decided to hang his boots earlier this year. Today’s main event fight between Poirier and Gaethje is for that title

BMF title fight: Justin Gaethje def. Dustin Poirier via second-round KO (1:00)

Light-Heavyweight bout: Alex Pereira def. Jan Blachowicz via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Heavyweight bout:Derrick Lewis def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima via first-round TKO (0:33)

Lightweight bout:Bobby Green def. Tony Ferguson via technial submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:54 of Round 3.

Welterweight bout:Kevin Holland def. Michael Chiesa via submission (d’Arce choke) at 2:39 of Round 1

Welterweight bout: Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira (cancelled)*

Dustin Poirier will face Justin Gaethje in the UFC 291 main event for the BMF title at the Delta Center in Utah but this will not be the first time that the Americans are facing each other. READ MORE ABOUT POIRIER vs GAETHJE 1

Welterweight bout: Gabriel Bonfim vs. Trevin Giles via sub (guillotine choke) (R1, 1:13)

Catchweight bout:CJ Vergara def. Vinicius Salvador via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

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

Welterweight bout:Jake Matthews def. Darrius Flowers via sub (Rear Naked Choke) (R2, 2:37)

Early preliminary card

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

Women’s flyweight bout: Miranda Maverick def. Priscila Cachoeira via submission (armbar) (R3, 2:11)

UFC 291: Poirier vs Gaethje 2 can be live streamed on Sony LIV and will also be telecast across the Sony Sports Network at 7:30 am IST