UFC 291: All 11 Fights At Delta Center
Jul 29, 2023, 4:42 PM | Updated: Jul 30, 2023, 9:18 am
(Photo courtesy of Chandler Holt, KSL Sports)
(Photo courtesy of Chandler Holt, KSL Sports)
SALT LAKE CITY – The UFC is back in Utah and it returned with a stacked card.
Some of the best fighters in the world will face off on Saturday night. Check back here for updates from the Delta Center.
Tonight’s full #UFC291 lineup and it’s HUGE 🔥
[ B2YB @Manscaped ] pic.twitter.com/wAycZzZbD3
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2023
Fight 1 – Miranda Maverick vs. Priscila Cachoeira
“Fear The” Maverick and “Zombie Girl” opened up the night in Salt Lake City.
There’s only one way to kick off a card like this!@BruceBuffer on the call for the first time tonight 🗣🎙 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/PrLs99YcxT
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2023
Maverick and Cachoeira were well-matched on their feet. However, Maverick forced multiple takedowns and had dominant position on the ground throughout all three rounds.
Halfway through the final round, Maverick forced Cachoeira to tap out with an armbar.
Miranda Maverick kicks off #UFC291 with a finish!@FearTheMAVERICK locks the armbar in Round 3 💪 pic.twitter.com/lUox5wVbrc
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2023
The American potentially had other submission opportunities in the first and second rounds. Maverick said it was tactical to wait and make her opponent more tired.
“I wanted to make sure that (Cachoeira) had nothing left when I went for the submission,” Maverick said.
Fight 2 – Matthew Semelsberger vs. Uroš Medić
“Semi The Jedi” and “The Doctor” capped off the early prelims.
The first round of this fight was electric. Both fighters did a lot of damage, throwing haymakers at every opportunity.
Oh these boys came to FIGHT 🔥🔥 #UFC291
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2023
The second round was about as even as it gets. Both Semelsberger and Medić put together multiple well-timed combos.
With three minutes left in the final round, Medić connected on a spinning elbow that sent Semelsberger to the floor. The fight was called after Medić started sending punches down on Semelsberger who was on his back.
Uros Medic with the spinning back ELBOW 🤯 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/UzY9AQADt2
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Fight 3 – Jake Matthews vs. Darrius Flowers
“The Celtic Kid” and “Beast Mode” kicked off the prelims in the Delta Center.
After getting hit with a minute left in the first round, Flowers pretended to be stunned to draw Matthews closer. The trick worked and he was able to get a takedown.
Flowers with the FAKE WOBBLE!? 😨 #UFC291
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
An official timeout was taken at the beginning of the second round after Flowers took a shot to the groin.
Matthews was able to deny Flowers’ takedown attempt and take the power position. He forced a submission with a rear naked choke halfway through the second round.
THE CELTIC KID GETS THE TAP! @JakeMatthewsUFC secures the submission over Flowers in Round 2! #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/dcf9eMaQoe
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Fight 4 – Roman Kopylov vs. Claudio Ribeiro
Kopylov, 10-2, and Ribeiro, 11-3, kept the ball rolling in the prelims.
Middleweights getting in the mix!
Roman Kopylov vs Claudio Ribeiro next up at #UFC291!
[ Tune in LIVE on @ABCNetwork, @ESPN, & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/1FEmcfeXBo
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Both fighters pushed the pace in the first round, landing punches and sending strong kicks.
Just before the conclusion of the first, Ribeiro caught Kopylov with multiple strikes and forced him into the corner.
Right at the start of the second, Kopylov returned the favor. He connected on a head kick which sent Ribeiro to the floor.
ROMAN KOPYLOV BY HEAD KICK ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? 😱 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/f4ESOykjIt
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Fight 5 – CJ Vergara vs. Vinicius Salvador
Flyweights Vergara and Salvador entered the ring to face off as the main card crept closer.
The two fighters felt each other out in the first round. Salvador landed multiple body kicks on Vergara.
Get fired up for the flyweights 🔥@CJVergara1991 vs @SalvadorUFC up next at #UFC291
[ Tune in LIVE on @ABCNetwork, @ESPN, & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/qhbDdTiFs7
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
There was an official timeout taken with two minutes left in the round after Vergara took a shot to the eye.
Both Vergara and Salvador landed some pretty significant strikes in the second round. It appeared to be anyone’s fight going into the final round.
Salvador’s reach advantage helped him keep a bit of extra distance between himself and Vergara.
Flyweights going at it 👀#UFC291 pic.twitter.com/AHmqYCMioZ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 30, 2023
Vergara walked away as the victor via unanimous judge’s decision.
Fight 6 – Gabriel Bonfim vs. Trevin Giles
Undefeated Gabrial “Marretinha” Bonfim and Trevin Giles fought in the last bout before UFC 291’s main card.
GABRIEL BONFIM 🤯🤯
The undefeated record lives to see another day #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/TTXr3eKX7Q
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 30, 2023
Bonfim came out swinging. He continued to push forward toward Giles and ended up successfully taking him down.
Bonfim’s undefeated record stays intact as he forced a submission in the first round via guillotine choke.
“I expected this,” Bonfim said. “Every fight there’s a new Gabriel. I’m ready for anyone in the division.”
15-0!
Gabriel Bonfim is a star on the rise #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/cmfyrIbnm8
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Fight 7 – Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Holland
“Maverick” and “Trailblazer” came in to set the tone for the main card.
Holland landed a few strong knees and got the Delta Center buzzing.
After a few failed takedown attempts by Chiesa, Holland wrangled the Maverick and put him on the ground. He forced a submission halfway through the first round.
KEVIN HOLLAND BY SUBMISSION 😨@Trailblaze2top submits Chiesa in Round 1! #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/5x3pJL3uOT
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
The Trailblazer used to be relatively one-dimensional as he struggled in the ground game. Against Chiesa, he played excellent takedown defense and got his second straight win via submission.
Fight 8 – Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green
It was clear from the press conference that “El Cucuy” and the “King” aren’t fans of one another.
No love between lightweights 🔥@TonyFergusonXT vs @BobbyKGreen is NEXT at #UFC291!
[ Order the Main Card now: https://t.co/aahJK2D0H8 ] pic.twitter.com/XI1U9kot0v
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Ferguson went for a takedown early in the second but it ended up working against him. Green took the power position and started throwing punch after punch down on El Cucuy.
Both fighters were covered in blood and looked gassed by the start of the final round.
Green dominated the final round. He landed multiple strikes that were clearly taking a toll on Ferguson. The timer was ticking down in the fight when Green went for it all. He pulled out a submission win with less than 10 seconds on the clock.
Beat the buzzer with that sub! 😤 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/EWiAURuHeg
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Fight 9 – Derrick Lewis vs. Marcos Rogerio De Lima
Heavyweights Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis and Marcos “Pezao” Rogerio De Lima were next to enter the octagon.
Lewis must have been disrespected after nearly fighting in the prelims. He came out with a flying knee that put De Lima on the ground. The fight was called after Lewis sent punch after punch into Pezao’s head.
DERRICK LEWIS IN THIRY SECONDS!!@THEBEAST_UFC IS BACK #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/N2idh4Hw7Z
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Lewis hit his signature beast celebration after the quick round-one victory. He was also quick to take his shorts off.
AND HIS BALLS WAS HOT #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/uqz1Tqefxn
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Fight 10 – Jan Błachowicz vs. Alex Pereira
The much anticipated co-main event between Błachowicz and Pereira arrived and brought an energy boost to an already rowdy Salt Lake crowd.
A new hunt starts NOW 🏹 #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/1JcHcHLBO6
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Błachowicz was on Pereira’s back for almost the entirety of the first round attempting to pull off a submission.
Pereira had excellent takedown defense in the second round. He was able to get out of Błachowicz’s grasp and show off his striking ability.
Błachowicz took Pereira down again in the final 30 seconds but it appeared to be too little, too late. Pereira’s move up to light heavyweight looked to be a good one, as he beat Błachowicz via split decision.
BY SPLT DECISION!!@AlexPereiraUFC takes a CLOSE one over Blachowicz at #UFC291! pic.twitter.com/cWEOMioYTu
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Fight 11 – Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje
The entire night led to this. Only one fighter can be crowned the BMF. “The Diamond” versus “The Highlight.”
Poirier and Gaethje both immediately lived up to their name. They came out swinging with no regard for the consequences.
A NEW BMF WILL BE CROWNED 🏆🤬@DustinPoirier vs @Justin_Gaethje happens NOW!!
[ Don’t miss it: https://t.co/aahJK2D0H8 ] pic.twitter.com/g9wuEt7rNF
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
By the end of the first round, both Gaethje and Poirier were already bloody.
Just after the start of the second round, Gaethje connected on a head kick that flattened Poirier.
Gaethje got the revenge he was looking for. He did a backflip off the octagon in celebration.
JUSTIN GAETHJE KO’s POIRIER BY HEAD KICK 😱
WE HAVE A NEW BMF #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/eUunAPoHnO
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
The Highlight ends the night on a highlight to become the new BMF title holder.
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Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter @ChandlerHoltKSL or on Threads @chandlerho1t.
