'The Diamond Is Broken' – Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler, Alexander Volkanovski & Other MMA Stars React To Justin Gaethje's Headkick KO Win Over Dustin Poirier At UFC 291

Five years after he came up short in their first meeting, Justin Gaethje got his revenge when he finished Dustin Poirier with a sensational head kick in the main event of UFC 291.

The crowd at Salt Lake City’s Delta Center was out in full force from the night’s opening fight between Miranda Maverick and Priscila Cachoeira, and the energy in the arena only increased as the night’s headlining bout got closer. The event featured a number of impressive finishes and some standout performances on the main card, but everything led up to the second meeting between two of the most exciting fighters the sport has ever seen.

THE BMF TITLE FIGHT STARTS NOW #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/GZEBM30na1

— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023

The fight opened relatively tamely with each man testing the other’s defenses, but both fighters got into a rhythm quickly and had moments of success on the feet. Gaethje’s low kicks were particularly effective from the start of the fight, but Poirier also landed enough strikes of his own to keep fans on the edge of their seats throughout the opening frame.

Things made it all the way to the fourth round when the two lightweights met in 2018, but Gaethje brought their second meeting to a close in much quicker fashion when he floored Poirier with a clean head kick one minute into the second round.

Octagon-side for THE knockout of the night from @Justin_Gaethje 🔥 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/8NJBHH16Y4

— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023

In addition to avenging a TKO loss from the first fight with Poirier, the brutal knockout crowned “The Highlight” as the UFC’s new BMF champion and possibly set him up for a meeting with the winner of the upcoming lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira.

Your NEW BMF title holder, @Justin_Gaethje 🤬🏆 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/SeAtmXXZix

— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023

Fighters React To Justin Gaethje Knocking Out Dustin Poirier

No true combat sports fan was going to miss the rematch between Gaethje and Poirier, and plenty of fighters shared their reactions to the incredible finish.

Diamond is broken #UFC291 congrats Justin!

— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) July 30, 2023

Daaaaaaamn! Did not expect a head kick KO from Gaethje. Wow. #ufc291

— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) July 30, 2023

Congrats to Justin 🫡
That was crazyyyyyyyy

— Jalin Turner (@JalinTurner) July 30, 2023

AMAZING @Justin_Gaethje !!! #UFC291

— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) July 30, 2023

WOW! Congrats to the BMF @Justin_Gaethje #ufc291

— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 30, 2023

Utah is the land of headkick main events

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 30, 2023

That wasn’t just a head kick win. Justin looked great the whole fight leading into the finish

— Steven Wright (@steventhewarman) July 30, 2023

This sport is so crazy! You just never know what can happen! Great finish by Gaethje. Poirier was looking so good in round 1 too. Trilogy?!#UFC291

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) July 30, 2023

Why usman catch a random stray

— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) July 30, 2023

Wow that was impressive! Congrats to @Justin_Gaethje 👏🏼

— Rafael “Ataman” Fiziev (@RafaelFiziev) July 30, 2023

Well now @Justin_Gaethje has the #BMF belt – he has to defend it against a worthy adversary🤔

— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 30, 2023

Amazing KO, congratulations Justin

— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) July 30, 2023

You can check out all of the results and highlights from UFC 291 right here.

Source link