Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz was all set to rematch Aleksandar Rakic in the opening UFC pay-per-view event of 2024, but the big Pole's plans for a flying start to the new year have been scuppered.
The stars of UFC 291 hit the scales then face off once more for fans in Salt Lake City. Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje rematch for the BMF belt, plus Alex Pereira moves to light heavyweight to meet Jan Blachowicz and more.
Bobby Green, Stephen Thompson, Michael Chiesa, Kevin Holland and Dustin Poirier kick off fight week at the hotel. Justin Gaethje’s parents arrive. Alex Pereira and Tony Ferguson push themselves in the gym.
The two fighters set for action in the main event of UFC 291 made weight with no problems for their eagerly-anticipated rematch in Salt Lake City.
Bobby Green, Stephen Thompson, Michael Chiesa, Kevin Holland and Dustin Poirier kick off fight week at the hotel. Justin Gaethje’s parents arrive. Alex Pereira and Tony Ferguson push themselves in the gym.
Kevin Holland trains with an Ultimate Fighter. Jan Blachowicz and Bobby Green shop for SLC souvenirs. Alex Pereira, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje push hard. Stephen Thompson takes in Pioneer Day.
Dustin Poirier does a grocery run. Stephen Thompson soaks away a tough workout. Kevin Holland stays sharp in Texas. Glover Teixeira grills for Alex Pereira. Jan Blachowicz cowboys up; Tony Ferguson trains as only he can.
Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje prepare to rematch with the BMF belt on the line. Stephen Thompson straps up and Michel Pereira trains with soldiers. Jan Blachowicz and Alex Pereira both want to reclaim gold, one of them in a new division.
The co-main event of UFC 291 will see two former champions collide as former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz welcomes former middleweight champion Alex Pereira to the 205-pound division in a bout that has major ramifications for the light heavyweight title picture.
Controversy reigned in the T-Mobile Arena as two controversial judging calls brought an anticlimactic end to an otherwise spectacular night at UFC 282 in Las Vegas.