<p>The UFC makes its way to Salt Lake City for UFC 291 as Dustin Poirier takes on Justin Gaethje for the 2nd time in their respective careers. Although this main event isn’t hosting a title fight, we’ve still got an absolutely stacked card that will have fight fans salivating.</p>
<p>291 is full of heavy hitters like Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Derrick Lewis, Tony Ferguson, and Alex Pereira. We’ve also got Aussie Jake Matthews fighting in the Prelims!</p>
<p>If you’re after UFC 291 Tips & Previews for the upcoming fights, look no further. We’ve got a breakdown of all the fights plus a prediction on how we think they’ll all play out.</p>
<p>Check out our UFC Tips below!</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>UFC 291</h2>
<p><strong>Location: </strong>Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah</p>
<p><strong>Date: </strong>30th July 2023</p>
<p><strong>Odds:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/">Bet Here</a></p>
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<h2>UFC 291 Times</h2>
<p><strong>Early Preliminary Card:</strong> 8:30am AEDT</p>
<p><strong>Preliminary Card:</strong> 10:00am AEDT</p>
<p><strong>Main Card:</strong> 12:00pm AEDT</p>
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<h2>UFC 291 Schedule</h2>
<h3>Early Preliminary Card</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/miranda-maverick-v-priscila-cachoeira-7516926">Miranda Maverick vs. Priscila Cachoeira (Women's Flyweight)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/matthew-semelsberger-v-uros-medic-7497091">Matthew Semelsberger vs. Uros Medic (Welterweight)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/cj-vergara-v-vinicius-salvador-7497092">CJ Vergara vs. Vinicius Salvador (Flyweight)</a></p>
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<h3>Preliminary Card</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/jake-matthews-v-darrius-flowers-7519166">Jake Matthews vs. Darrius Flowers (Welterweight)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/roman-kopylov-v-claudio-ribeiro-7497094">Roman Kopylov vs. Claudio Ribeiro (Middleweight)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/derrick-lewis-v-marcos-rogerio-de-lima-7405524">Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Derrick Lewis (Heavyweight)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/trevin-giles-v-gabriel-bonfim-7497095">Gabriel Bonfim vs. Trevin Giles (Welterweight)</a></p>
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<h3>Main Card</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/kevin-holland-v-michael-chiesa-7405523">Kevin Holland vs. Michael Chiesa (Welterweight)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/stephen-thompson-v-michel-pereira-7261432">Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira (Welterweight)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/bobby-green-v-tony-ferguson-7487653">Bobby Green vs. Tony Ferguson (Lightweight)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/jan-blachowicz-v-alex-pereira-7405525">Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira (Light Heavyweight)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-291/dustin-poirier-v-justin-gaethje-7370632">Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje (Lightweight)</a></p>
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<h2>Where to Watch UFC 291</h2>
<p><strong>Early Prelims & Prelims:</strong> Kayo & ESPN</p>
<p><strong>Main Card:</strong> MAIN EVENT (Foxtel) & Kayo (Pay-Per-View)</p>
<p> </p>
<h2>UFC 291 Tips & Predictions</h2>
<h3>Jake Matthews vs Darrius Flowers</h3>
<p>Aussie Welterweight Jake Matthews enters the Octagon for the first time in 2023 as he faces off against Darrius “Beast Mode” Flowers. Matthews last fought in December 2022 against Matthew Semelsberger which ended in a unanimous decision loss, while Flowers will be making his UFC debut after a Round 1 TKO victory on Dana Whites Contender Series in August of 2022.</p>
<p>If you’re wondering why it’s been so long between drinks for Flowers, it’s due to a six month suspension for a positive drug test which only expired on July 27th.</p>
<p>This will be the biggest challenge of Flowers career. Although these guys are almost the same age (born 6 days apart) Matthews has been in the UFC for <strong>9 years.</strong> That’s longer than Flowers entire fight career.</p>
<p>Although Flowers looked great in his DWCS debut, Matthews will be too much for him and we expect him to get the finish within 3 rounds.</p>
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<p><strong>Tip:</strong> Jake Matthews to Win via KO</p>
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<h3>Derrick Lewis vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima</h3>
<p>Has the UFC seen a bigger fall from grace than Derrick Lewis? The captivating Heavyweight took the UFC world by storm in 2018 over his win against Volkov and had a pretty decent run with the big men, besides a couple losses to Daniel Cormier, Junior Dos Santos and Ciryl Gane respectively. Since his loss to Bam Bam Tuivasa last year, the Black Beast hasn’t managed to get back into the winner’s circle, losing his last two fights in the first round, making it three losses on the trot.</p>
<p>Marcos Rogerio De Lima is 21 -8 and coming off a Decision win back in April so expect him to be fresh and brimming with confidence.</p>
<p>A win here means de Lima likely cracks the top 15 rankings while Lewis will be battling for relevancy and a reset to his heavyweight career.</p>
<p>Given Lewis’ form his last three fights, he just seems to be getting worse and worse and unless he’s made significant improvements in his camp, De Lima will be walking away with the win.</p>
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<p><strong>Tip:</strong> Marcos Rogerio de Lima to Win</p>
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<h3>Michael Chiesa vs Kevin Holland</h3>
<p>To kick off the main event we’ve got welterweights Michael Chiesa & Kevin Holland in what’s sure to be an electric start to the night.</p>
<p>Entering on a 2-loss streak, Chiesa is in desperate need of a win. Since his last fight there were several fight cancellations, and some even thought he had retired, but he's been given a chance to get a win over Holland. Chiesa's wrestling advantage in this matchup is well-known, and he is relentless with his pressure style, grinding his opponents against the cage or on the ground. However, standing up, he's clearly outmatched by Holland.</p>
<p>Holland's recent fight against Thompson showcased his incredible durability, absorbing numerous punches and head kicks without backing down. He's always been an exciting and slick kickboxer, though his ground game has been a weaker point. Nevertheless, he should do reasonably well against Chiesa, considering the latter's lack of activity.</p>
<p>Chiesa's wrestling will definitely be a factor in the fight, but it remains to be seen how Holland will react and handle the situation, we think he’ll get it done within the 3 rounds.</p>
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<p><strong>Tip:</strong> Kevin Holland to Win via KO</p>
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<h3>Tony Ferguson vs Bobby Green</h3>
<p> If it wasn’t for an absolute banger of a main event, we’d say this would <em>have</em> to be the Fight of the Night.</p>
<p>Tony Ferguson's recent string of losses has raised questions about his form and whether he can return to the fighter we all know and love. Most of his losses have come against wrestling/grappling types but when he’s gone up against hard-hitting strikers like Chandler & Gaethje, he’s shown some of that crazy, off-the-wall style.</p>
<p>Green, on the other hand, is coming off a competitive fight against Gordon, where he displayed his exceptional boxing skills. He comfortably stands in front of opponents, picking them apart with expert precision. Additionally, Green's defensive skills make him elusive and difficult to hit, but Ferguson's leg attacks could be a threat, given Green's past vulnerabilities in that area.</p>
<p>Looking at recent form, it’s hard to see this going any other way than a Green victory. His boxing could get it done in 3 rounds, but given Ferguson’s cardio and durability, we can see this one going the distance as well.</p>
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<p><strong>Tip:</strong> Bobby Green to Win via KO or Decision</p>
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<h3>Stephen Thompson vs Michel Pereira</h3>
<p>Another huge fight in what’s already a stacked main event card – we’ve got Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson facing off against Michel ‘Demolidor’ Pereira.</p>
<p>Thompson is coming off a fantastic fight against Holland which was one of the most entertaining fights of the year. His momentum is building, and his traditional kickboxing style mixed with karate makes for a unique fight style that allows him to utilise his reach, mobility and cardio. His only kryptonite is high levels of pressure, being forced against the fence and getting taken to ground, all things Pereira will be able to deliver on.</p>
<p>Pereira is mainly a striker but has a couple submission victories to his name and you have to think that will be his ticket to victory. If Pereira looks for takedowns early and succeeds, then Thompson will have to worry about future takedowns during the bout, and Pereira's explosive abilities might catch him off guard, especially if Pereira mixes up his striking and grappling game.</p>
<p>Ultimately Wonderboy Thompson is in career form, and its looking like Pereira is just another speed bump on his way to a title shot.</p>
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<p><strong>Tip:</strong> Stephen Thompson to Win</p>
<h3> </h3>
<h3>Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira</h3>
<p>Another banger in the co-main gives us former champion Jan Blachowicz taking on Alex Pereira who’s a newcomer to the Light Heavyweight division.</p>
<p>Blachowicz isn’t shy to throw hands when he needs too but going up against a guy like Pereira who boats an impressive kickboxing resume, you have to assume he’ll try and follow the same wrestle heavy tactics that earned him a victory over Israel Adesanya back in 2021.</p>
<p>Now this could go one of two ways. On one hand Pereira is <em>much</em> bigger than Adesanya and he’ll struggle to use his strength in the same way he did in 2021. On the other hand, Pereira has never fought a wrestler in the UFC, all of his fights have been against strikers, so it will be interesting to see what happens when this fight goes to the ground.</p>
<p>We’re expecting Pereira to show his class here and his superior striking will earn him the KO victory.</p>
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<p><strong>Tip:</strong> Alex Pereira to Win via KO</p>
<h3> </h3>
<h3>Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje</h3>
<p>The main event of the evening delivers two of the most electric fighters in the division battling it out for the BMF belt, the second time this belt’s been on the line since Masvidal vs Diaz.</p>
<p> Everyone’s expecting this fight to end up a big fist fight for the 5 rounds and it could well and truly go that way, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if Poirier took it to the ground early. The Diamond has some serious wrestling skills, almost submitting Khabib back in 2019 with a guillotine.</p>
<p>It’s more of a question of if Poirier wants to fight conservatively and go for the win or whether he wants to put on a show.</p>
<p>All in all these guys are seriously tough and its going to be one hell of a fight. Both have the durability to make this go the 5 rounds and we think this will go the distance and end in a decision victory for Poirier.</p>
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<p><strong>Tip: </strong>Dustin Poirier to Win via Decision</p>
<p> </p>
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