Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 Odds and Betting Tips for UFC 291

UFC returns to Salt Lake this weekend, with lightweight rivals Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje set to battle it out for the vacant BMF title. The fight will take place at the Delta Center in Utah.

This will be the second meeting between Poirier and Gaethje, with the duo having put on a classic in California some five years ago. 

UFC 291 will also feature a co-main event, involving Jan Blachowicz and Alex Pereira. Ahead of this weekend’s bouts, we will take a closer look at the odds offered by bookmakers. We will also discuss the potential outcomes of Poirier vs Gaethje. 

Current odds for the Poirier vs. Gaethje fight

34-year-old Poirier has an MMA record of 29-7. Having beaten Gaethje via TKO in 2018, Poirier is the favourite to get one over on his compatriot once again. However, the odds for the two 34-year-olds are relatively close. Below, you will find the current odds available for both fighters: 

• Dustin Poirier to win at 4/6 with bet365
• Justin Gaethje to win at 6/5 with William Hill

Best bookies for betting on Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje

Here are some of the best bookies for the Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje rematch:

Dustin Poirier’s current form and recent fights

Poirier’s last outing came at UFC 281, when he beat Michael Chandler via submission. This win was off the back of a loss at the hands of Charles Oliveira at UFC 269, almost a year prior. The American also beat Conor McGregor twice in 2021, completing the trilogy in style in the process. With Poirier’s last 10 fights, he has an 8-2 record, with the veteran having made his UFC debut back in 2010. 

Justin Gaethje's current form and recent fights

Gaethje’s MMA record comes in at 24-4, with the American having beaten Rafael Fiziev by a majority decision back in March. That was his last latest fight, with the American having previously been beaten by Charles Oliveira at UFC 274. Gaethje’s UFC debut came back in 2017 when he lost to Eddie Alvarez by KO. 

Poirier vs. Gaethje betting tips and odds

While Poirier is the favourite to win with the bookies, it is still worth looking at betting tips ahead of his fight against Gaethje this weekend. Based on our UFC knowledge and statistics ahead of the fight, the following are our top tips:

Dustin Poirier to win in Round 1 at 19/4 (BetUK)

A significant number of Poirier’s UFC bouts have ended in the first round. The American has also come out on top in the majority of these fights. As such, it would not be a huge surprise should he do so against Gaethje this weekend. The odds of 19/4 from BetUK are very appealing. 

Fight not to go the distance at 2/5 (William Hill)

Not many are predicting that the fight will go the distance on Saturday night. Just two of Gaethje’s ten UFC contests have been decided by decision. Meanwhile, Poirier’s last four fights have all ended before the final round, whether it be via submission or TKO. As such, betting on the fight to not go the distance at 2/5 from William Hill is well worth considering. 

How to place a bet on Gaethje vs. Poirier

The vast majority of bookies in the UK now offer UFC markets. It is quick and simple to back your favourite fighters, with the following being a step by step guide for beginners to follow:

1. Register an account by entering your personal details and potentially creating a username and password.
2. Login to your account.
3. Deposit money using your preferred payment method.
4. Claim your welcome bonus. 
5. Select the “MMA” option.
6. Browse UFC markets available on the Poirier vs Gaethje fight.
7. Add selections to your bet slip.

Poirier vs. Gaethje fun fact

In the first fight Dustin Poirier landed much more strikes to the head than his counterpart. Dustin landed 81% of his hits to the head, while Justin landed 48% hits to the head.

First Justin Gaethje vs. Dustin Poirier fight stats

Before placing any bet on UFC 291, be sure to check out some of the interesting statistics from the first fight between Poirier and Gaethje, listed below: 

• Poirier completed zero of his five takedown attempts. 
• Gaethje landed 50 out of 57 leg strikes on Poirier.
• No significant strikes were made on the ground by either fighter.
• Poirier won the fight in the 4th round through a punch to the head. 

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Who won in the first Poirier vs. Gaethje clash?

Taking place at UFC on Fox in April 2018, Poirier and Gaethje went toe to toe in Arizona. The fight ended in the 4th round, with Poirier having defeated Gaethje via TKO (punches). Gaethje was deducted a point in the 3rd round following a poke to the eye of Poirier. Meanwhile, this bout was also branded “Fight of the Night”. 

What is the prize money for Gaethje vs. Poirier fight?

Dustin Poirier earned $170,000 when he defeated Gaethje back in 2018, with his opponent collecting $110,000. With their upcoming fight being the co-main event at UFC 291, the duo can expect to earn significantly more this time around. However, exactly how much has not yet been disclosed. 

Who has more KOs in their career, Poirier or Gaethje?

It is interesting to note that it is Gaethje, nicknamed “The Highlight” who has the most career knockouts to date. From his 24 MMA wins, 19 have come by way of knockout. This is compared to Poirier, with 14 of his MMA successes having been through TKO. 

Which fighter has more wins by submission, Gaethje or Poirier?

However, you can gain a better understanding of the two fighting styles when looking at the number of victories via submission between the two. This is because Poirier has 8 MMA wins through submission, compared to just one from Gaethje. Gaethje has also never won a UFC fight in this way. Poirier won by submission in his last fight against Micheal Chandler, using a rear choke hold. 

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Does Poirier have more professional matches than Gaethje?

The simple answer to this question is yes. Poirier’s professional career began back in 2009. Since then, the American has won 29 of his 37 fights, 22 of which have come in the UFC. As for Gaethje, he has 24 wins from his 28 fights to date, having previously won all 7 of his amateur fights. 

Who has won more titles, Poirier or Gaethje?

Poirier won the Interim UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 236, thanks to his win over Max Holloway. The American would then face Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title unification bout at UFC 242. It was Khabib who came out on top thanks to a rear-naked choke submission in round 3. Gaethje is still searching for his first UFC title, having faced Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 274. 

Who is more likely to get KO’d, Gaethje or Poirier?

Neither fighter is prone to being knocked out. In fact, both men have lost in this way just twice in their professional careers. As such, it would appear that submission is a more likely method of victory this weekend. 

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Are there any undercard fights that you should pay attention to?

UFC 291 features a host of other fights that are worth watching. Your eye will instantly be drawn to the bout between Alex Pereira and Jan Blachowisz. The light heavyweight clash is the co-main event, with Pereira being the favourite to win. Elsewhere, Tony Ferguson is looking to cause an upset against Bobby Green, while Michael Chiesa and Kevin Holland face off in a welterweight clash.

UFC 291 fight card

• Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira, light heavyweights
• Bobby Green vs. Tony Ferguson, lightweights
• Ikram Aliskerov vs. Paulo Costa, middleweights
• Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira, welterweights
• Derrick Lewis vs. Marcos Rogerdio de Lia, heavyweights
• Kevin Holland vs. Michael Chiesa, welterweights
• Matthew Semelsberger vs. Yohan Lainesse, welterweights
• Roman Kopylov vs. Claudio Ribeiro, middleweights
• CJ Vergara vs. Vinicius Salvador, flyweights
• Trevin Giles vs. Gabriel Bonfim, welterweights
• Joanne Wood vs. Priscila Cachoeira, women's flyweights

How to watch UFC 291

• Date: July 30
• Location: Delta Center, Utah
• Start time: 1 a.m. (BST) (Main card) 
• How to watch: ESPN+ PPV

James Fuller

James is an experienced copywriter with over a decade’s worth of experience in the iGaming industry. He is an avid sports fan, following football, tennis, Formula 1 and golf in particular.

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