UFC 291

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UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2
The poster for UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateJuly 29, 2023 (2023-07-29)
VenueDelta Center
CitySalt Lake City, Utah, United States
Attendance18,467[1]
Total gate$6,556,443.97[1]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font

UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 29, 2023, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.[2]

Background[edit]

The event marked the promotion's third visit to Salt Lake City and first since UFC 278 in August 2022.[2]

A lightweight rematch between former interim UFC Lightweight Champions Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje (also former WSOF Lightweight Champion) headlined the event.[3] They also competed for the symbolic "BMF" (baddest motherfucker) title, which was vacated after the original holder Jorge Masvidal retired in April.[4] The pairing first met at UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje in April 2018 which Poirier won by fourth-round TKO. The fight was considered "Fight of the Year" by several media channels.[5]

A welterweight bout between former UFC Welterweight Championship challenger Stephen Thompson and Michel Pereira was expected to take place at UFC 289,[6] but contracts were never signed and the bout was rescheduled for this event instead.[7] At the weigh-ins, Pereira weighed in at 174 pounds, three pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit.[8] As a result, the bout was scrapped.[9]

Matthew Semelsberger and Yohan Lainesse were scheduled to meet in a welterweight bout at the event.[10] However on July 10, Lainesse was removed from the event for undisclosed reasons and replaced by Uroš Medić.[11]

Joanne Wood was expected to face Priscila Cachoeira in a women's flyweight bout on the preliminary card.[12] However, Wood pulled out in mid-July due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Miranda Maverick.[13]

A welterweight matchup between Jake Matthews and Miguel Baeza was booked for this event.[14] However on July 19, Baeza pulled out due to an undisclosed reason.[15] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Darrius Flowers.[16]

Former UFC Middleweight Championship challenger Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov were expected to meet at the event.[17] However, the promotion opted to scrap the pairing and instead move them to UFC 294 in October matching them up with Khamzat Chimaev and Nassourdine Imavov, respectively.[18]

At the weigh-ins, Vinicius Salvador weighed in at 128.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 20 percent of his purse, which went to his opponent C.J. Vergara.[19]

Results[edit]

Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Lightweight Justin Gaethje def. Dustin Poirier KO (head kick) 2 1:00 [a]
Light Heavyweight Alex Pereira def. Jan Błachowicz Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) 3 5:00
Heavyweight Derrick Lewis def. Marcos Rogério de Lima TKO (punches) 1 0:33
Lightweight Bobby Green def. Tony Ferguson Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) 3 4:54
Welterweight Kevin Holland def. Michael Chiesa Submission (brabo choke) 1 2:39
Preliminary card (ABC / ESPN / ESPN+)
Welterweight Gabriel Bonfim def. Trevin Giles Submission (guillotine choke) 1 1:13
Catchweight (128.5 lb) C.J. Vergara def. Vinicius Salvador Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Middleweight Roman Kopylov def. Claudio Ribeiro KO (head kick) 2 0:33
Welterweight Jake Matthews def. Darrius Flowers Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 2:37
Early preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass)
Welterweight Uroš Medić def. Matthew Semelsberger TKO (spinning backfist and punches) 3 2:36
Women's Flyweight Miranda Maverick def. Priscila Cachoeira Submission (armbar) 3 2:11
  1. ^ For the symbolic "BMF" title.

[20]

Bonus awards[edit]

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[21]

  • Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded.
  • Performance of the Night: Justin Gaethje, Derrick Lewis, Bobby Green, and Kevin Holland

Reported payout[edit]

The following is the limited reported payout to the athletes as reported to the Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission. The athletes were able to choose whether or not they wanted to disclose their purse to the public. It does not include sponsor money or "locker room" bonuses often given by the UFC.[22]

  • Kevin Holland: $356,000 (includes $178,000 win bonus) def. Michael Chiesa
  • Bobby Green: $300,000 (includes $150,000 win bonus) def. Tony Ferguson
  • CJ Vergara: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Vinicius Salvador
  • Gabriel Bonfim: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Trevin Giles

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Mike Bohn (2023-07-31). "UFC 291 post-event facts: Justin Gaethje's insane bonus streak continues". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  2. ^ a b Chandler Holt (2023-05-16). "Delta Center, Salt Lake City to host third UFC event in July". kslsports.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  3. ^ Nolan King (2023-05-16). "The 'BMF' title returns: Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2 to headline UFC 291 in Salt Lake City". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  4. ^ Damon Martin (2023-05-16). "Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2 for BMF title headlines UFC 291, full main card announced". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  5. ^ John Morgan (2018-04-15). "UFC on FOX 29 results: Dustin Poirier digs deep, stops Justin Gaethje in fourth round of chaotic clash". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  6. ^ Cole Shelton (2023-05-02). "Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira removed from UFC 289". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  7. ^ Staff (2023-05-16). "UFC announces card with the return of Borrachinha and Poatan's debut at light heavyweight". ge.globo.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16. (in Brazilian Portuguese)
  8. ^ Zane Simon (2023-07-28). "UFC 291 PPV bout in jeopardy after weigh-ins". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  9. ^ Nolan King (2023-07-28). "UFC 291 loses main card fight: Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira off". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  10. ^ Jay Anderson (2023-05-31). "Matthew Semelsberger to face Yohan Lainesse at UFC 291". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  11. ^ Nolan King (2023-07-10). "Matchup roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (July 3-9)". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  12. ^ Nolan King (2023-05-30). "UFC 291 adds Joanne Wood vs. Priscila Cachoeira". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  13. ^ Nolan King (2023-07-13). "With Joanne Wood out, Miranda Maverick steps in at UFC 291 vs. Priscila Cachoeira". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  14. ^ Jay Anderson (2023-06-30). "Jake Matthews vs. Miguel Baeza booked for UFC 291 in Salt Lake City". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  15. ^ Nolan King (2023-07-19). "Miguel Baeza announces withdrawal from Jake Mathews fight at UFC 291". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  16. ^ ITN News Desk (2023-07-21). "Miguel Baeza out, Darrius Flowers to fight Jake Matthews at UFC 291". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  17. ^ Farah Hannoun (2023-05-17). "Paulo Costa returns to meet Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 291". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  18. ^ Nolan King (2023-07-19). "Khamzat Chimaev returns at UFC 294 to face Paulo Costa". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  19. ^ Staff (2023-07-28). "UFC 291 weigh-in results: Headliners set, but two fighters heavy in Salt Lake City". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  20. ^ "UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  21. ^ Matt Erickson (2023-07-30). "UFC 291 bonuses: With plenty to pick from, Justin Gaethje's extra $50,000 was easy". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  22. ^ Nolan King (August 7, 2023). "UFC 291 fighter pay: Kevin Holland leads limited list after Utah commission amends policy". MMAjunkie.com.
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