Anyone who watched UFC 291 was left with a feeling of deja vu. And that's because for the second straight year — and nearly one year apart exactly — a UFC event held in Salt Lake City ended with a new champion being crowned via a highlight head-kick knockout.
The main event of the evening saw Justin Gaethje become the second BMF championship winner in UFC history when he delivered a brutal, head-kick KO of Dustin Poirier in the second round of their main event bout. This was a rematch of their April 2018 encounter that saw Poirier score a fourth-round finish against Gaethje.
The co-main event saw Alex Pereira make a successful light heavyweight debut with a split-decision victory over former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz. Blachowicz seemed to trouble Pereira with grappling, but Pereira fought back in the second round, picking Blachowicz apart with combinations, as well as leg kicks that damaged one of Blachowicz's legs. After a third round that saw mostly a striking battle, two of the three judges gave the nod to Pereira.
Derrick Lewis also provided a highlight with a sub-minute knockout of Marcos Rogerio de Lima. Bobby Green scored a last-second submission of Tony Ferguson after dominating him throughout the fight, while Kevin Holland opened the main card with a finish of Michael Chiesa.
Check out UFC 291 — summed up in some of the best tweets (or Xs, thanks Elon).
UFC 291 summed up in GIFs and memes
Let's kick off the action!
LFG!!! #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/ONSohYMqCH
— Robert Sanchez (@rsanchezsr82) July 29, 2023
#UFC291 https://t.co/e2PVwVBChR pic.twitter.com/c8oSiY5ltU
— 👇🏽 (@MMACODE) July 29, 2023
#ufc291 & #SpenceCrawford. pic.twitter.com/dFbElEwnnq
— Fight Lounge (@fightlounge_) July 29, 2023
#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/z9kTY6z9DC
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) July 29, 2023
Miranda Maverick vs. Priscila Cachoeira
In your head! #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/j4YkLLDXmi
— Louie Love (@louielove787) July 29, 2023
Watching Cachoeira fight#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/WuwsAuk7ge
— Josh (@JUchiha909) July 29, 2023
Dogs allowed.#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/HpLuFSYaiT
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) July 29, 2023
Maverick 3rd round finish! Domination too. Easy 💰 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/AqHGJXixbT
— 🍻Alekz 🦅 (@wac415) July 29, 2023
Matthew Semelsberger vs. Uros Medic
Semelsberger looks at a Medic across the octagon! #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/oVNnpfyig1
— Johnny Facts! (@MrJohnnytokes) July 29, 2023
Let’s go Semelsberger! #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/NAWiogGgCs
— 🔻ZēN🔺 (@NinjaLee212) July 29, 2023
Semelsberber vs Medic #MMATwitter #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/EfRkIf7wjY
— davefretz (@davefretz) July 29, 2023
When the 2nd fight of the night is THIS good 🙌 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/KqhkuvTwsm
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2023
Call me the Doctor 🚀#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/U3qEGxdh6J
— Trust The Process 📈 (@TTPBetss) July 30, 2023
The Doctor is in on a Sunday! 🩺
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) July 30, 2023
What a way for 🇷🇸@Urketaraketa to secure another victory! #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/RJ0g8BKOux
Jake Matthews vs. Darrius Flowers
Uk fans falling asleep but hearing DC, Anik and Rogan #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/nQmMOMkRLP
— • (@BTXlll) July 30, 2023
LMAOOOOOOOOOO! Darrius Flowers faked being hurt 🤣 pic.twitter.com/yu81CTlUpn
— FTB VIDS (@anotherFTBacct) July 30, 2023
Matthew's looks like the real life version of Baldur 😂 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/v4R6LNdeA3
— Wat3r (@WAT3RPLZ) July 30, 2023
"Flowers deadass fooled us all in to thinking he rocked then BOOM"#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/qEKF4mlp2w
— Jordain 🏴 (@McDainMMA) July 30, 2023
C'mon Matthew's! Make Flower tap out. Beat him down! @ufc #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/gpPZKOhTEZ
— RedLola2017 (@RedLola2017) July 30, 2023
Roman Kopylov vs. Claudio Ribeiro
Russian Chase Hooper up next #UFC291Live #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/0FuSDOiiuR
— Jesse (@Coffisays) July 30, 2023
Cormier: "he's got the curly hair, but this guy's a killer."#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/Ch7hBo1K26
— Craig (@CraigCWR) July 30, 2023
rooooooooooooooobet🦘#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/Eaw7WNRYlO
— Joseph (@JosephiG__) July 30, 2023
me watching kopylov uncork that UNHOLY headkick #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/8kR4tALdIl
— Maestro MMA (@TheMaestroMMA) July 30, 2023
Usman in the crowd after that kick #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/jIPezuY4r0
— Jon (@j6o8n6) July 30, 2023
C.J. Vergara vs. Vinicius Salvador
They're breakdance fighting 🐩#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/q8idaUOUrR
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) July 30, 2023
🚨BREAKING: Dana White has decided he wants to end the flyweight division after watching Vergara vs Salvador.#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/5hxEEK57x7
— The Fight Bubble (@thefightbubble) July 30, 2023
Salvador literally just spent all fight showboating & he lost 💀 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/3HCF0GX1uQ
— Michael Rumble (@MRumbleLFC) July 30, 2023
Gabriel Bonfim vs. Trevin Giles
#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/kI1wuIjm58
— T 💃🏽💸📈 (@tshine_bby98) July 30, 2023
Bonfim is so impressive!! He showed hands, ragdolled a good fighter in Giles, and submitted him with a guillotine… all early in the first round. #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/vg9uvBB28C
— Recliner Sports Report 🥊🏈🏀⚾️🏒🏌️♂️ (@recliner_report) July 30, 2023
Gabriel Bonfim #ufc291 pic.twitter.com/bKbay7KMTN
— noah (@dunklowfan) July 30, 2023
Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Holland
#UFC291 time no pic.twitter.com/9dgClrM5nl
— Kyle Hamel (@K_Hamel_12) July 30, 2023
1.5u Holland/Chiesa under 2.5 rounds (-150)💰💰
— Lags (@Danny_Lags) July 30, 2023
+1u💰
Holland TDD 😮💨#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/qHeCCaqpUp
Kevin Holland fighting a grappler: #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/9AHb4a0PJv
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) July 30, 2023
Solido Holland #UFC291 (?) pic.twitter.com/dxLUk3KU9P
— ArturoH (@ArturoH2017) July 30, 2023
“What’s your gameplan for another grappler?”
— OverDogs (@OverDogsPodcast) July 30, 2023
Kevin Holland: #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/Z2sFD319MR
Kevin Holland is #Him #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/nX8KuS0Plb
— Jonathan Alphonse (@Real_Alphonse14) July 30, 2023
Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green
Tony needs a win tonight. He’s got something to prove here. #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/A7WPwGEa7R
— UFC fans & news (@mmatitanfans) July 30, 2023
Me waking up in the middle of the night for UFC to Tony's walkout music #UFC291 https://t.co/XbKp9xKs4x
— Matysek (@Matysek88) July 30, 2023
I worry Tony Fergusons skull is now like a can of mushy peas. #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/2aGCPiKzU4
— Ben Lambert (@YouTubeLambert) July 30, 2023
#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/Wdu6ZPjAVB
— The 6th Round (@The_6thRound) July 30, 2023
Another Tony Ferguson loss.. #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/xvL00syEH4
— Squid Vicious MMA (@SquidViciousMMA) July 30, 2023
Bobby Green to Tony Ferguson the entire fight #UFC291
— Jobless Yb Fan (@ShisuiTheDonn__) July 30, 2023
pic.twitter.com/ABavrRm4Vh
Another Tony Ferguson stoppage #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/Ah4wzkYni4
— Aidan Hull (@Aidan_Hull98) July 30, 2023
Tony Ferguson is now on a 6 Fight losing streak #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/phqJwVJnfv
— Jmag (@jmagings) July 30, 2023
Tony lost #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/Lidd62z9Ry
— The instigator2.0 (@TheinstigatorB) July 30, 2023
Make it 6 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/IE6u2CYf3k
— PUR3 S0UL (@Gcode6971) July 30, 2023
Derrick Lewis vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Derrick Lewis c’est LE divertissement 🔥🔥 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/wr2BHn5Kuw
— Preyda☀️✨ (@Preyda8313) July 30, 2023
Nah man what did Derek Lewis just do? #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/sNbBnJOo6r
— IcemanSaleh (@The_Real_Saleh) July 30, 2023
OUTRAGEOUS SCENES #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/D8nQquLWxe
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 30, 2023
Derrick Lewis after the win 😆#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/IY7bFqmYzl
— Navin GK 🇮🇳 (@navin_g_k) July 30, 2023
Derrick lewis tonight #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/5DV5n7oFR0
— Mzwappe.pg🇯🇵 (@_fizzyy_) July 30, 2023
Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira
“I thought you said you were gonna test your striking against Pereira?”
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) July 30, 2023
Jan Blachowicz: #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/7bNXpSK9dT
“Ya bro, I would like to test my striking against you Alex.” 😂 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/BKQ54csbhv
— OverDogs (@OverDogsPodcast) July 30, 2023
#UFC291
— LE ROI (@LEROI90911218) July 30, 2023
Pereira nation... pic.twitter.com/HB9Kg9xcpM
2-1 Perira #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/JC45OplDY4
— 47-Wolverine (@BrotherSinister) July 30, 2023
#UFC291 🇧🇷🫡 pic.twitter.com/IsQInO1XaT
— عثمان بن فيصل . (@AlmulhimU) July 30, 2023
Poatan vs Prochazka for the vacant light heavyweight title next #UFC291 #MMA pic.twitter.com/9VQIUc0b3o
— Giancarlo Aulino (@Gian_411) July 30, 2023
Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje
JUSTIN THE HIGHLIGHT REEL GAETHJE JUST KNOCKED OUT DUSTIN POIRIER WITH A HEAD KICK 😱#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/nzJtu6LbIF
— The Below Average Joe's MMA Show (@thebajmma) July 30, 2023
WTF did i say. Justin Gaethje via KO. Headkick. Sweet dreams Poirier #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/SxfBqX3xqf
— The Southern Guy (@ariesvibez) July 30, 2023
THE NEW BMF. DOUBT HIM NOW. WBAT A FIGHT #UFC291 @Justin_Gaethje pic.twitter.com/QY8YbQBON5
— 𝕽𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖔🎥🥊 (@MmaScented) July 30, 2023
GAETHJE!!!!!!!! @Justin_Gaethje HEADSHOT DEAD!!!! #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/gdxQAIBNcX
— B-Rad ☺️ (@bigmurph68) July 30, 2023
That head kick by Gaethje was crazy #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/w5F1P4EhVp
— ARIEL (@ARI3LxF) July 30, 2023
POV: you just watched Justin Gaethje beat up Dustin Porier #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/jAcawkq1pT
— JV🕷️ (@vinhlegacy) July 30, 2023
JUSTIN GAETHJE KNOCKED DUSTIN POIRIER’S HEAD OFF #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/VXhCDYEQeF
— Ramon (@rad1ram) July 30, 2023