UFC 291: Top Seven Insights from an Eventful Night in Salt Lake City

Utah continues to churn out memorable UFC highlights, with the latest being Justin Gaethje’s explosive defeat of Dustin Poirier to secure the vacant BMF title at UFC 291. The event, hosted at the Delta Center, also included exciting moments from Alex Pereira’s announcement in the 205-pound category and Derrick Lewis’ unique performance. There’s much to dissect, so let’s break down the seven major insights from UFC 291.

In an ironic twist, after much chatter about Fight of the Year predictions, three-time FOTY winner Justin Gaethje made a case for Knockout of the Year instead. This reinforces the unpredictability of MMA.

Gaethje’s knockout, reminiscent of Leon Edwards’ memorable hit on Kamaru Usman just under a year ago, showcased the evolution of “The Highlight.” Gaethje 3.0 has honed his talents and controlled his aggressive tendencies to pose a serious threat in the 155-pound category.

While the match between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira 2 is already scheduled, Gaethje’s updated version might just be Makhachev’s toughest challenge. Despite Conor McGregor’s attempts to include himself in the conversation, Gaethje might be best off waiting for the UFC 294 winner.

As for Poirier, his future is uncertain. At 34, Poirier has shown signs of wear from his fighting career and expressed disinterest in facing new contenders. If he chooses to return, a matchup against Nathan Diaz might be enough to draw “The Diamond” back to the ring.

1b. Regardless of the outcome, Poirier’s humility post-fight only amplifies our admiration for him.

Alex Pereira is fast tracking a potential Hall of Fame UFC career at a record pace.

Less than two years ago, Pereira was battling Andreas Michailidis in a UFC 268 undercard. Now, he’s one of only two light heavyweights to defeat Jan Blachowicz and one victory away from becoming the eighth two-division champ in UFC history. His fight to fight growth is commendable.

Pereira’s potential showdown with Jiri Prochazka could be the epic conclusion to the Adesanya-Pereira rivalry we’ve all been waiting for.

Tony Ferguson, once an exciting spectacle in pro sports, now paints a heartrending picture of the cruel side of the fight game.

The 39-year-old fighter, who once amassed one of the longest win streaks in UFC history, continues to fight despite signs of decline. His performance at UFC 291 only amplified the need for a transition into the next phase of his life.

Michael Chiesa’s unusual performance against Kevin Holland at UFC 291 raises questions about his future in the ring. Thankfully, his proficiency as an analyst provides a fallback. As for Holland, his move back to 185 pounds isn’t promising given the larger competition.

Derrick Lewis’s free agency announcement after his stunning knockout victory was nothing short of spectacular. Despite the uncertainty of his future in UFC, the idea of Lewis crossing over to PFL for a rematch with Francis Ngannou or trying his luck in bare-knuckle boxing is intriguing.

Stephen Thompson made a commendable stand against Michel Pereira’s weight miss, refusing to give Pereira any leniency. In a game where health and careers are on the line, Thompson’s stance could serve as an example to discourage other fighters from missing weight in the future.

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