UFC 291 Preview
One of the more anticipated cards is upon us, as UFC 291 is right around the corner with some fantastic fights. The card is headlined by two fan favorites, Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier will fight for the vacant BMF belt. An interesting Light Heavyweight bout headlines the co-main event as Jan Blachowicz welcomes Alex Pereira to the 205 lb division. The rest of the main card is stacked with fighters like Tony Ferguson, Stephen Thompson, Kevin Holland, and more. Let's dive deeper into the fights on the main card.
Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Holland
The fight that opens up the main card is a great one in the Welterweight division as Michael Chiesa returns to the octagon against Kevin Holland. Fight fans saw Holland compete at UFC 287, where he earned a KO victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio. The "Trailblazer" is known for his stand-up game despite having an underrated submission game. That might be tested as Chiesa is one of the better fighters in the Welterweight division at grappling. Chiesa has 16 professional wins, as all ten finishes have been by submission. He is dangerous on the ground and will look to get back into the win column after dropping two straight against Vicente Luque and Sean Brady. This fight is a tremendous main-card opener and should be an electric one to watch.
Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green
This Lightweight clash is exciting as Tony Ferguson returns to the octagon against Bobby Green. Ferguson will get most of the fan love at UFC 291 as he is beloved in the UFC community, despite being on a five-fight losing skid. He'll try to change that against Green in what should be a fun match-up. Green loves to stand and bang, as he has some crisp boxing for the division. While being 0-2-1 in his last three fights, Green will look to shift the momentum with a win over a huge fan-favorite. Both fighters are looking to get back into the win column at UFC 291 in what fans can expect to be a great, high pace fight.
Michel Pereira vs. Stephen Thompson
If any fight has the chance to take the spotlight from the main event, it is this one. Unfortunately, we will have to wait if this fight continues as planned, as Michel Pereira has missed the Welterweight limit by three pounds. Negotiations are ongoing, but we will preview it as of now. Despite the weight discrepancy, Thompson will likely take the fight and compete at UFC 291. Thompson will have a significant advantage now with his cardio and fitness in the octagon. "Wonderboy" is known for his craftiness and karate skills. He'll pick his shots from the outside and try to methodically break down Pereira. Thompson is coming off an electric win against Kevin Holland and will try to repeat that performance at UFC 291. Pereira missing weight is a problem since this is arguably the biggest fight of his career. He is on a five-fight winning streak and will try to continue that streak against a dangerous opponent.
Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira
The co-main event should not disappoint, as the anticipated Light Heavyweight debut of Alex Pereira is upon us at UFC 291. After losing the Middleweight title to rival Israel Adesanya at UFC 287, Pereira will be going up in weight and taking on the former Light Heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz. Many believe that this is a number one contender fight for the division. Jamahal Hill had to vacate the title due to injury, so there is a real possibility that the winner of this co-main event can get the title shot next. It'd be interesting to see if Blachowicz will implement the same game plan he utilized against Adesanya to Pereira. The most prominent question lies in the wrestling and grappling aspects of the fight. Pereira will look to keep the fight on the feet as he is one of the most dangerous strikers to ever compete in the UFC. His kickboxing abilities are second to none, which will be his path to victory. Blachowicz did a great job checking the kicks of Adesanya when they fought, so it'll be interesting to see how it plays out on the feet when they meet in the octagon. The co-main event is big for the Light Heavyweight division and has significant implications for the winner and loser.
Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2
The main event will determine who will be crowned the BMF between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. The rematch is upon us and with higher stakes. Both fighters are in their prime and in great shape. The first fight occurred in April of 2018 when Poirier earned a TKO victory in the fourth round. That fight is still considered a "classic" fight, and the rematch might produce another one. Since Jorge Masvidal has retired, the BMF belt has been vacated. The UFC made the right choice to keep the belt alive and have two of the most violent Lightweights ever fight for it. Everyone remembers the inaugural BMF fight between Masvidal and Nate Diaz at Madison Square Garden. The second-ever fight will now happen at UFC 291, and fans expect a fantastic show. Gaethje will bring the chaos with him into the octagon and the heavy leg kicks he is known for. Poirier had trouble with those leg kicks in the first fight and will try to mitigate that now in the rematch. Poirier can also be chaotic, but it's more controlled than Gaethje, making this fight tremendous and entertaining. Poirier said it best in an interview about this BMF fight at UFC 291: "I don’t think it goes 25 minutes. If it does, me and him will chat about it in the hospital because that’s where we will be going.”
