Justin Gaethje knocks out Dustin Poirier, wins BMF title at UFC 291 - ESPN

SALT LAKE CITY — There have been a lot of special nights over the course of Justin Gaethje's career. UFC 291, though, has to be at the very top.

In his 29th professional fight on Saturday, Gaethje claimed the BMF title with a highlight-reel head-kick knockout of Dustin Poirier at the 1:00 mark of the second round. Gaethje avenged a TKO loss to Poirier the first time they met in 2018 and likely earned himself a lightweight title shot in early 2024.

«This is unlike any other sport on earth, because you barely get a chance at redemption,» Gaethje said. «We take a loss, we have to sit at home and let it eat away at us. We usually never get that chance. So, to come back and prove myself — I believed in myself the whole time.»

The finish was eerily reminiscent of the head kick welterweight Leon Edwards used to upset Kamaru Usman in their welterweight championship fight last August inside Salt Lake City's Delta Center. Gaethje threw out his jab and followed with a high head kick, which caught Poirier flush as he dipped away from the punch.

The BMF title was originally created in 2019, when Jorge Masvidal fought Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC 244 in New York City. Masvidal never defended the symbolic title, but he did retire in April, opening the door for the UFC to book its second BMF title fight.

Gaethje (25-4) is now tied for the fifth-most knockout finishes in lightweight history with six. He went through some adversity in the opening round before the finish, when Poirier opened a cut over his left eye with straight left hands. Gaethje blinked away the punches and appeared visibly bothered, but eventually wiped the blood away and continued.

The finish caught the attention of former double champ Conor McGregor, who