Justin Gaethje Head Kick Shuts Down Dustin Poirier in UFC 291 Headliner

“The Highlight” remains as fitting a nickname today as the day it was given to him.

Justin Gaethje laid claim to the symbolic BMF title and established himself as the No. 1 contender for the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight crown, as he brought down Dustin Poirier with a perfectly placed head kick in the second round of the UFC 291 headliner on Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gaethje (25-4, 8-4 UFC) filed away his latest victory 60 seconds into Round 2.

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Poirier (29-8, 21-7 UFC) struggled to establish a rhythm throughout a competitive first round but managed to cut the former World Series of Fighting champion near his left eye with a clean one-two. Gaethje, meanwhile, invested in leg kicks and power punching combinations. Early in the second round, he backed up a right hand with an exquisitely timed head kick, his lower leg wrapping around Poirier’s defenses before detonating behind the ear. The Louisiana native crashed to the canvas and ate a hammerfist from Gaethje before referee Herb Dean could slide in for the save.

Pereira Edges Blachowicz on Split Scorecards

Teixeira MMA standout Alex Pereira made a successful move to 205 pounds, as he eked out a split decision over Jan Blachowicz in their three-round light heavyweight co-main event. All three cageside judges scored it 29-28: Junichiro Kamijo for Blachowicz, Derek Cleary and Ron McCarthy for Pereira.

Blachowicz (29-10-1, 12-7-1 UFC) was in charge for a majority of the first round. He secured a takedown roughly two minutes into the period, advanced to the back and secured his position with a body triangle. The former UFC champion threatened with rear-naked chokes on multiple occasions, but Pereira managed to survive. By the start of Round 2, it became clear that fatigue had already taken a bite out of Blachowicz. Pereira (8-2, 5-1 UFC) went to work with his world-class kickboxing skills, as he shredded the Pole’s lower lead leg with kicks, leaned into his jab and picked his spots with power and precision. Blachowicz completed a takedown in the final minute of the fight, but his attempts to consolidate it with meaningful damage went nowhere.

Pereira, 36, has won eight of his past nine bouts.

Lewis Wrecks Rogerio de Lima in 33 Seconds

Former Legacy Fighting Championship titleholder Derrick Lewis took care of “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” Season 3 semifinalist Marcos Rogerio de Lima with punches in the first round of their heavyweight showcase. Rogerio de Lima (21-9-1, 10-7 UFC) bowed out 33 seconds into Round 1.

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Lewis (27-11, 18-9 UFC)—who entered the Octagon on a three-fight losing streak—roared out of the gate with a flying knee that sent the American Top Team-trained Brazilian crashing to the canvas. “The Black Beast” swarmed Rogerio de Lima with punches, briefly climbed to full mount and then transitioned to the back with his adversary in a kneeling position. Lewis continued to let his heavy hands go until referee Dan Miragliotta had seen enough.

It was just the second sub-minute finish of Lewis’ career.

Green Arm-Triangle Buries Ferguson

Onetime King of the Cage champion Bobby Green put away Tony Ferguson with an arm-triangle choke in the third round of their lightweight feature. Ferguson (25-9, 15-7 UFC) lost his grip on consciousness 4:54 into Round 3, as he suffered his sixth consecutive defeat.

Green (30-14-1, 11-9-1 UFC) withstood a first-round knockdown, countered with punches from odd angles and made the most of his other opportunities. Ferguson rolled for ill-advised leg locks in the second and third rounds, only to pay the price for those efforts. Green battered him with hammerfists, elbows and forearm strikes from above, opening several small facial lacerations. He exploited Ferguson’s fatigue further late in Round 3, as he once again moved into top position, locked in the arm-triangle choke, cleared his legs and waited for a lack of blood flow to the brain take hold.

The submission win was Green’s first since Feb. 2, 2013.

Holland Choke Downs Chiesa

Former two-division Xtreme Knockout titleholder Kevin Holland tapped “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 15 winner Michael Chiesa with a brabo choke in the first round of their welterweight attraction. Chiesa (16-7, 11-7 UFC) conceded defeat 2:39 into Round 1.

Holland (25-9, 12-6 UFC) put the Sikjitsu mainstay in peril almost immediately. He checked Chiesa’s chin with a pair of close-range uppercuts, shut down multiple takedown attempts and threatened with knee strikes up the middle. Holland collapsed downward with his opponent diving at his legs, caught the brabo choke and let his powerful, long-armed squeeze do the rest.

Chiesa has lost three fights in a row, two of them via brabo choke submission.

Continue Reading » UFC 291 Prelims: Roman Kopylov Kick Levels Claudio Ribeiro