The UFC 291 main card lineup has been altered with the removal of a middleweight bout and the addition of a lightweight bout, headlined by a rematch between former interim lightweight champions Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje for the vacant “BMF” title.
The main card for UFC 291 has undergone a recent transformation with the removal of a middleweight bout and the addition of a lightweight bout. The alteration was announced during Saturday’s UFC London broadcast, confirming that the event will take place on July 29 at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. The pay-per-view will be headlined by an anticipated rematch between former interim lightweight champions, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, both vying for the vacant “BMF” title.
The primary alteration made to the pay-per-view line-up is the withdrawal of the matchup between Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov, who will now both participate in UFC 294 in October instead. Paulo Costa is set to face Khamzat Chimaev and Ikram Aliskerov will step into the ring with Nassourdine Imavov.
The co-main event features former light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz, competing against former middleweight titleholder, Alex Pereira in a crucial 205-pound match. Completing the main card are bouts involving two-time title contender, Stephen Thompson, up against Michel Pereira in the welterweight title clash. Elsewhere, former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson, will be battling Bobby Green. Opening the pay-per-view event is a match between Michael Chiesa and Kevin Holland. As for the preliminary lineup, it is still being finalized. However, it has been confirmed that it will include a match between Derrick Lewis and Marcos Rogerio de Lima in the heavyweight division.