Reminder: We will deliver live round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 291’s entire five-fight pay-per-view (PPV) main card RIGHT HERE, beginning at 10 p.m. ET.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, TONIGHT (Sat., July 29, 2023) with a blockbuster pay-per-view (PPV) event, featuring a 155-pound banger for the “Baddest Motherf—ker” title between all-action Lightweight wrecking machines, Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje, who will run back their “Fight of the Century” from 2018. In UFC 291’s PPV co-main event, former Middleweight champion, Alex Pereira, makes his highly-anticipated Light Heavyweight debut against former division champion, Jan Blachowicz. We’ve got Tony Ferguson, Derrick Lewis and Kevin Holland, too!
IT’S TIME TO CROWN UFC’s NEW BMF!
Before that action begins at 10 p.m. ET later this evening, though, MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 291 “Prelims” undercard below, beginning with the first fight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (then the remaining undercard on ESPN/ABC/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET). We will then cover UFC 291’s PPV main card in a separate thread right here, beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Bet on UFC 291 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Poirier vs. Gaethje 2.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 291 “Prelims” undercard results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 291 ESPN+ PPV MAIN CARD QUICK RESULTS:
Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje for BMF title
Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira
Derrick Lewis vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green
Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Holland
UFC 291 ESPN/ABC/ESPN+ ‘PRELIMS’ QUICK RESULTS:
170 lbs.: Gabriel Bonfim def. Trevin Giles via first-round submission (guillotine) at 1:13 — HIGHLIGHTS!
185 lbs.: Roman Kopylov def. Claudio Ribeiro via second-round knockout (head kick) at 0:33 — HIGHLIGHTS!
170 lbs.: Jake Matthews def. Darrius Flowers via second-round submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:37
125 lbs.: C.J. Vergara def. Vinicius Salvador via unanimous decision (29-28 All)
170 lbs.: Uros Medic def. Matthew Semelsberger via third-round TKO (punches) at 2:36 — HIGHLIGHTS!
125 lbs.: Miranda Maverick def. Priscila Cachoeira via third-round submission (armbar) at 2:11
UFC 291 ‘PRELIMS’ PLAY-BY-PLAY RESULTS:
170 lbs.: Gabriel Bonfim vs. Trevin Giles
Round one: Bonfim pushes the pace instantly and starts swinging. Completely wild is Bonfim as they lock up in over under clinch against the cage. Bonfim gets the back and lifts Giles up before dropping him and landing in side control. Bonfim defends as Giles muscles his way off the ground and gets caught in a guillotine. Giles taps!
Final result: Bonfim def. Giles via first-round submission (guillotine) at 1:13
185 lbs.: Roman Kopylov vs. Claudio Ribeiro
Round one: Heavy inside low kick from Ribeiro starts the action. Good left straight from Kopylov lands. Ribeiro paws the jab as he takes an inside low kick. Ribeiro is looking for counters but whiffing on every attempt. Nice left hook to the body from Kopylov. Strong right-body kick from Ribeiro. Good pressing jab from Kopylov followed by a left body kick. Little right outside leg kick from Ribeiro. Kopylov attempts a flying knee against the cage with a two-hook combo afterward. All defended. Ribeiro starts to flurry but can’t connect too cleanly. Nice body kick from Kopylov. Push kick from Kopylov before a strong jab. Another big body kick from Kopylov. Left-hand lands from Kopylov, pressing Ribeiro to the cage. Good 1-2 from Kopylov. Right hand stuns Kopylov as he flurries and starts connecting on Kopylov. Takedown attempt is thwarted by Ribeiro before the round concludes. 10-9 Kopylov.
Round two: Ribeiro gets back to working the leg. AND A ONE-SHOT HEAD KICK PUTS RIBEIRO OUT. That’s that!
Final result: Kopylov def. Ribeiro via second-round knockout (head kick) at 0:33
170 lbs.: Jake Matthews vs. Darrius Flowers
Round one: Good inside leg kick from Flowers starts the action. Flowers pressures, seeking big shots. Matthews lands several hooks with his back against the cage. Left hook to the body from Matthews. Push kick from Matthews. Flowers stays aggressive. Nice right straight from Matthews. Good leg kick exchange. Flowers presses forward, takes an elbow for his trouble. Left hook to the body from Matthews before a front kick to the body. Nice inside leg kick from Matthews, another front kick to the body lands. Jab from Matthews. Sneaky left hook to the body from Matthews, a right hand follows it up behind the ear. Flowers plays possom, pretending he’s rocked before firing back and nearly getting taken down. Flowers hits a takedown of his own but gets caught in a guillotine position. He quickly transitions to side mount, out of danger. Matthews moves to full guard and the round ends. 10-9 Matthews.
Round two: Pressure reverses instantly with Matthews advancing. A big front kick to the body from Matthews lands, Flowers drops instantly but it’s being questioned as a groin shot. The fans boo loudly as commentary calls it a clean shot. Scenes in Salt Lake. Action resumes. Matthews goes right back to the same kick. Head kick from Matthews is blocked before a big right hand connects. Another push kick from Matthews as he starts pawing jabs. Nice left hook from Matthews, Flowers catches a leg but can’t capitalize. Flowers shoots for a takedown but is stuffed. Matthews controlling from half-guard. Matthews threatens with a kimura before transitioning into mount. Matthews starts landing punches as Flowers covers up, turns over, Matthews sinks in the choke and forces the tap.
Final result: Matthews def. Flowers via second-round submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:37
125 lbs.: C.J. Vergara vs. Vinicius Salvador
Round one: Good opening leg kick from Salvador. Salvador lands the old capoeira backwards leg kick and goes back to a traditional inside. Vergara lands a leg kick of his own on the outside. Nice outside low kick from Salvador. Good leg kick from Vergara. Battle of the leg kicks so far. Another lands for Vergara. Vergara throws a big left hook that appeared to land to the chest or neck area. Vergara suffers an accidental eye poke. Vergara says it’s hard to see but the doctor lets the action continue. Leg kick lands for Salvador. Vergara with a big swing and a miss up high. Beautiful straight left hand from Salvador. Just not enough activity at all from Vergara. Not that he’s being outsruck by a crazy amount. Good leg kick from Vergara. Nice left hand from Salvador lands. Good jab from Salvador. Outside leg kick from Vergara. Vergara tries to jab his way into the pocket but can’t find a home for anything. Round ends with a missed Vergara high kick. 10-9 Salvador.
Round two: Vergara eats a left hand and then gets back to attacking the legs and receives one in return. Good body kick from Vergara. Sneaky head kick from Salvador before a failed matador moment against the cage. Bizarre. The volume has swapped a bit in this round. Nice body kick from Salvador at the end of a punch combo attempt. Vergara backs Salvador into the corner, can’t really connect anything. He finds a left hand as Salvador starts shoulder rolling. Strong body kick from Salvador. Jab gets through for Salvador. Slapping body kick from Vergara, Salvador returns a light one. There just isn’t much power behind Salvador’s shots at this point. Then he lands a good straight left to the body followed by a kick. Good timing. Left hook catches Salvador against the cage. Weak takedown attempt from Salvador leads to a brief clinch against the cage. They throw wildly in the final seconds, Salvador lands a slapping left hook. Round ends. 10-9 Vergara.
Round three: They get a quick hug in to start the final frame. Jab from Salvador before a body kick. Sneaky jab from Salvador. Nice right hook from Vergara. Left hook to the body seems to hurt Salvador. Another from Vergara lands up top and then another. Straight right from Vergara. Loose left hook from Salvador. Salvador caught with a left hook in return. Good right hand up top for Vergara as Salvador continues to search with minimal power shots. Vergara head kick blocked. Right hook from Vergara finds its mark then a left. Wild swings from Salvador throw him off balance. Knee to the body from Vergara as Salvador gets in close. Snapping left hand from Vergara connects. Wide left hook to the body from Salvador. Horn sounds. 10-9 Vergara. Overall, 29-28 Vergara.
Final result: Vergara def. Salvador via unanimous decision (29-28 All)
170 lbs.: Matthew Semelsberger vs. Uros Medic
Round one: Semelsberger goes high with a left kick early but Medic evades. Semelsberg drops Medic early and Medic fights back with wild up kicks before Semelsberger tries to find a quick choke. They scramble and Medic stands with a body lock from Semelsberger. Semelsberger eats a strong left on the exit. Semelsberger connects with a good straight right that snaps Medic’s head back. Straight left sneaks through the guard from Medic. Big left straight connects from Medic. Medic goes for a left head kick, but Semelsberger blocks it. Right straight-hand plants Medic. Medic hurts Semelsberger with an up kick and pushes him off as Medic runs in and gets dropped with a sloppy punch. Semelsberger gets half on Medic’s back as they stand, the crowd reacts wildly. They trade left straights. Solid left body kick lands from Medic before time expires. 10-9 Semelsberger.
Round two: Slapping left hook from Medic followed by a right body kick. He kicks high, it’s blocked. Sneaky left hook grazes Semelsberger before he kicks low in and out. Good right hand followed by an outside leg kick from Medic. Nice left hand from Semelsberger. Semelsberger counters Medic’s straight left with an overhand right. Medic paws the jab as Semelsberger pressures in with a flurry of right hands. Jumping right hand from Medic enters the pocket. Medic goes up high with another kick that lands on the hand. Heavy elbow connects in tight from Medic as they swing in the pocket. 30 seconds to go. Medic looks high with the kick again, Semelsberger lands one low. Medic misses with a punch combination ended with a left high kick that lands on Semelsberger’s guard. Horn sounds. 10-9 Semelsberger.
Round three: Quick exchange of punches start the round. Body kick from Medic. Semelsberger presses Medic against the cage from a brief clinch. Solid right straight from Semelsberger. Left head kick from Medic gets partially through the guard. Nice jabs from Medic. Big two-punch combo rocks Semelsberger before a spinning back fist that connects with the forearm drops him, Medic flurries with punches, the referee stops the action!
Final result: Medic def. Semelsberger via third-round TKO (punches) at 2:36
125 lbs.: Miranda Maverick vs. Priscila Cachoeira
Round one: No touch of the gloves from Maverick. Maverick lands a left hand and kicks inside. Maverick fakes a takedown as they each land punches. A Maverick head kick slightly lands with the knee but not very cleanly. Maverick goes for another head kick to no avail as Cachoeira charges and attempts her own, resulting in a Maverick counter takedown. Maverick holds the legs as Cachoeira attempts to wall walk. Maverick starts to work to the side of Cachoeira as she has a body lock and lands some short punches. Maverick works to somewhat of side control against the cage as she continues punching in tight. Maverick mixes in a short elbow. Maverick finds a brief crucifix to land some elbows. Round ends. 10-9 Maverick.
Round two: Maverick charges in with a big left hand immediately. Cachoeira connects with an uppercut as they tie up briefly. Nice inside low kick for Maverick. Each feint uppercuts before Maverick pursues a single-leg takedown and presses Cachoeira against the cage, threatening a guillotine. Maverick loses the single and gets the body lock before dragging Cachoeira to the ground. Maverick in half, starts working more short punches. Maverick transitions to mount and starts dropping big punches. Cachoeira tries to buck and pushes off the cage to escape the position but remains on the bottom. Maverick gets back to half and starts dropping elbows. Round ends. 10-9 Maverick.
Round three: Cachoeira attacks with kicks early and eats some left hands for her trouble. Maverick gets the single-leg takedown and transitions to north-south. Maverick moves right into mount and locks on a quick armbar. That’s it! Maverick gets the tap.
Final result: Maverick def. Cachoeira via third-round submission (armbar) at 2:11
Remember: MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 291’s entire five-fight PPV main card RIGHT HERE, beginning at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 291: “Poirier vs. Gaethje 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.