The UFC waited five years to book a rematch between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, positioning it as the UFC 291 main event in Salt Lake City.
Truth be told, they could run a best of seven series between the two, and few fans would ever complain. Poirier and Gaethje represented two of the most violent fighters in MMA history, fan favorites who never disappoint.
The BMF championship being on the line? That was window dressing. The fight represented the violence-weight championship among hardcore fight fans, and to the fighters themselves, it was about legacy — and potentially a shot at the lightweight title proper.
Gaethje, not surprisingly, opened the fight with a leg kick, which was returned — to the body — by Poirier. Dustin ripped another body kick, keeping Gaethje on the outside. Gaethje, however, cracked Poirier with a right. Poirier continued to fire his kick at Gaethje’s right side; Gaethje stayed on the lead kick, and ripped the body. Then it was Gaethje’s turn to go upstairs with a kick, blocked by Poirier.
Both men would find success with their hands as the round wore on. A left hand by Poriier seemed to bother Gaethje’s eye; he was clipped a moment later, and came back swinging. Justin had a trickle of blood by the eye, however, though he continued to attack Poirier’s leg, then rip another blocked high kick.
Round two brought things to a close just as they were getting started, and perhaps the opening frame should have given us a hint of how things would come to an end. Gaethje ripped another high kick, and this one wasn’t blocked, not clean anyway. Foot hit cranium, and Poirier dropped! Gaethje moved in for a single hammer fist as ref Herb Dean dove in for the save — and Justin Gaethje had both his revenge, another championship, and likely another shot at gold waiting for him!
JUSTIN GAETHJE KO's POIRIER BY HEAD KICK 😱
WE HAVE A NEW BMF #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/eUunAPoHnO
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Calling Poirier one of his favorite fighters, Gaethje told the crowd that he hoped he had inspired them with the performance. “You know what I want to do next. I want to fight for the world championship,” Gaethje told Joe Rogan.
Official Result: Justin Gaethje def. Dustin Poirier by KO (head kick), Round 2, 1:00
