UFC Fight Night: Gaethje defeats Poirier in the second round

Justin Gaethje defeats Dustin Poirier by KO right high kick at 1:00 of Round 2

Official Scorecards

• Justin Gaethje: 10-9, 10-8, 10-9
• Dustin Poirier: 9-10, 9-10, 9-10

Justin Gaethje defeated Dustin Poirier by knockout in the second round of their lightweight bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday night. Gaethje landed a right high kick that sent Poirier crashing to the canvas. The referee stopped the fight at 1:00 of the second round.

With the win, Gaethje improves his record to 25-4. He is now the No. 1 contender in the lightweight division and is expected to challenge for the title later this year.

Poirier drops to 29-8 with the loss. He is now 1-2 in his last three fights.

The fight was a rematch of their 2018 bout, which Gaethje won by knockout in the fourth round. Poirier was looking to avenge that loss and earn a title shot, but Gaethje was simply too powerful on this night.

Gaethje started the fight aggressively, and he quickly took Poirier down. Gaethje landed some heavy ground and pound, but Poirier was able to escape. The two fighters then traded strikes on the feet, and Gaethje landed the more powerful shots.

In the second round, Gaethje continued to press forward. He landed a right high kick that sent Poirier crashing to the canvas. The referee stopped the fight at 1:00 of the second round.

Gaethje's victory was a statement to the rest of the lightweight division. He is now the No. 1 contender and is expected to challenge for the title later this year. Poirier, meanwhile, will need to regroup and decide what his next move will be.

Bonus Awards

• Fight of the Night: Justin Gaethje vs. Dustin Poirier
• Performance of the Night: Justin Gaethje
• Performance of the Night: Alex Pereira