Only a few hours have passed since UFC 291 last night in Salt Lake City, the hotly anticipated card certainly lived up to expectations, but we also learned a lot last night about certain divisions and fighters.
Gaethje Keeps Improving
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 29: Justin Gaethje flips after beating Dustin Poirier during their BMF Title Lightweight fight at UFC 291 at the Delta Center July 29, 2023 at the in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
This one hurts to write as a long, long time Dustin Poirier fan. The Lafayette native was a lot of peoples favourite going into this one and rightly so, or so we thought.
Dustin came out and probably took a minute or two but got Gaethje's timing and it looked like his boxing was going to take over, as it often does. Gaethje uncharacteristically threw a head kick and Poirier blocked it well in the first, but it was a perfect foreshadowing moment for what was about to follow.
Dustin came out in round 2 probably a round up and a lot of people thought the knee/uppercut up the middle was available for the Diamond but Gaethje came out with another head kick shortly into round 2 and flatlined Poirier. As a huge Poirier fan, it was gutting. As a lover of great knockouts and technique, it was stunning.
A head kick isn't something Gaethje has shown in his arsenal in the past. He's maybe thrown one or two, but it's predominantly boxing and leg kicks that break his opponents down, this one was expertly set up. He caught Poirier in his Philly shell adaptation and threw it over the shoulder. It was a remarkable kick, Dustin even managed to partially block it after reading it but it whipped around the back of the head and set Poirier crumbling to the canvas.
Gaethje has yet to show he's improved off of his back, however he's now showing that he can add other dimensions to his striking and really take it to the next level.
Pereira Keeps Improving, Maybe?
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JULY 29: (R-L) Alex Pereira of Brazil and Jan Blachowicz of Poland exchange punches in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC 291 event at Delta Center on July 29, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Alex Pereira vs Jan Blachowicz was a strange fight, but on paper, it was a great UFC 291 co-headliner, and whilst Alex has clearly improved his grappling defence, albeit still not outstanding yet, Jan got so tired so quickly that it was hard to tell.
Alex got up at the end of a close round 2 and landed some bombs on a noticeably shattered Jan Blackowicz and Jan looked to be in real trouble and was probably saved by the bell. Alex seemed to be fine cardio-wise, but Jan was really feeling the altitude. He was absolutely shattered after round 1.
It remains to be seen how Alex fares against someone else at a more normal altitude before jumping to any conclusions, but it looks like he's learning quickly.
Heavyweight is Finally Interesting?
(SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JULY 29: Derrick Lewis celebrates his TKO victory over Marcos Rogerio de Lima of Brazil in a heavyweight fight during the UFC 291 event at Delta Center on July 29, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Derek Lewis had abs at UFC 291. This is not an edit or a joke, he genuinely had abs! He's clearly put in a lot of work with his conditioning and his weight and it showed. He flew out the traps like a 265lb Jorge Masvidal throwing a flying knee that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.
In his short appearance in the cage, he looked fast, leaner for sure, and just as powerful. We didn't learn much from Lewis other than the things mentioned but he's inserted himself right back into the top of the division after a few losses.
For the first time in years the heavyweight division actually looks interesting. You've got Aspinall, Pavovlich, Gane, Spivac, Almeida and now Lewis all up at the top. Heavyweight is looking fun again!
We Don't Need to See Anymore of Tony Ferguson
(SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JULY 29: (R-L) Bobby Green punches Tony Ferguson in a lightweight fight during the UFC 291 event at Delta Center on July 29, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Tony Ferguson faced off against Bobby 'King' Green. I won't say much on this one, as the title says enough. Tony looked bad, Bobby looked good, but to see Tony get submitted was not on the cards. He looked a shadow of his former self, and despite claiming he's in his prime, he most certainly is not in his sporting prime.
Props to Green on submitting Tony when nobody thought he could or would, but man, do we really need to see anymore Tony? He looks progressively worse each fight now, its getting sad.
Altitude and Weirdness
Alex Pereira came in well prepared for the altitude and it definitely became a factor as Jan, a striker for the most part, gassed himself out by grappling with the much better striker Pereira. He made it competitive on the feet but ultimately fell to a decision loss and Pereira carries on his run.
Kevin Holland, the striker, submitted Michael Chiesa in a strange turn of events, and Tony being subbed by Bobby Green was another oddity tonight, but a much sadder one.
To top it all off, Derek Lewis lands a flying knee and melts through de Lima whilst showing off his abs in the process. Then Gaethje lands a headkick?! Crazy card.
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