Justin Gaethje 'surprised by myself' as he knocks Dustin Poirier out at UFC 291

Justin Gaethje defeated Dustin Poirier by knockout on Saturday night during the main event at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City.

Gaethje (25-4-0) used a kick to put down Poirier (29-8-0) just a minute into the second round of their lightweight bout. With the victory, Gaethje avenged his 2018 loss to Poirier and picked up the UFC's vacant "BMF" title.

The American, 34, has won back-to-back UFC fights for the first time since beating Tony Ferguson in May of 2020 after a victory over Donald Cerrone in September of 2019.

Poirier lost for the second time in his last three UFC bouts.

“This chance at redemption was amazing,” Gaethje said. “It drove me to work harder to be ready.”

It was Gaethje’s 20th win by knockout or TKO and his seventh victory in his last nine fights. He also scored his first knockout win since UFC 249 in 2020.

“I was surprised by myself and how good I fought,” Gaethje said.

Former interim lightweight champion Poirier matched Gaethje blow for blow in the first round before being quickly dispatched in the second.

The decisive high kick caught Poirier by surprise because it wasn’t a move that he expected to see from Gaethje.

“I thought I had four more rounds,” Poirier said. “I didn’t know I had two more minutes.”

With the victory, Gaethje became only the second fighter to win the BMF belt after Jorge Masvidal, who presented him with the belt after the fight.

.@Justin_Gaethje #AndNewBMF #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/5KenevVHvS

Beating Poirier opens the door for Gaethje to have a potential title bout against the winner of Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira, who are set to square off at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi in October.

Gaethje’s BMF win over Poirier headlined five main card bouts.

Alex Pereira defeated Jan Blachowicz by