UFC 291 marked the UFC’s first venture back to Salt Lake City after Leon Edwards’ historic knockout win just over a year ago. Headlined by the BMF title fight, after it was vacated due to Jorge Masvidal’s retirement back in April. With Lightweight superstars Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier promising to be an absolute barn-burner. It was a fight you can’t have blinked during.
The card was exceptional from the very start and only got better and better until the main event. The fight between Poirier and Gaethje started explosively, with both landing power shots in the opening round. It was subsequently in the second round that ‘The Highlight’ lived up to his nickname. Just a minute into the round Gaethje threw up a high-kick and left Poirier temporarily unconscious. It was the first time in 7 years Poirier had been KO’d. Whilst Gaethje carried on his impressive UFC run of finishes.
Dustin Poirier Responds to UFC 291 Loss
Poirier responded to the knockout, not long afterwards on social media.
He tweeted; “incredible Justin Gaethje beautiful set up”
In his post-fight conference ‘The Diamond’ talked about how he approaches a devastating loss like this. ‘If I win like a man, I’ve got to be able to lose like a man’. He continued, “Naturally, I had one hand up from years of training, but the foot got around good, I just didn’t see it.
“I just did a nine-week camp in South Florida, pushed myself every day, and had the easiest weight cut of my life. Porier “That’s why losing sucks… you do all this work and nothing is guaranteed.”
What’s Next for Both Fighters?
Justin Gaethje, after this win, is expected to fight the winner of the Lightweight title fight later this year; between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev.
It’s not all doom-and-gloom though for Poirier, he is still one of the top-ranked fighters at 155lbs, and is still on the cusp of the Chanpionship. It just sets him back a fight or two. Poirier after the fight persisted he won’t fight up-and-comers. He instead wants fights that ‘excite’ him.
What do you think is next for Poirier? Let us know in the comments 👇🏻.
Credits to TalkSport.com
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
