LAS VEGAS – UFC makes its highly anticipated return to Salt Lake City, Utah with a “Fight of the Year” candidate that will see No. 2-ranked lightweight contender Dustin Poirier run it back with No. 3 Justin Gaethje for the vacant BMF title. The co-main event will see former UFC light heavyweight champion and current No. 3-ranked contender Jan Blachowicz look to spoil the 205-pound debut of former middleweight titleholder Alex Pereira.

“UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2” will take place Saturday, July 29 at Delta Center (currently known as Vivint Arena) and will be available live on ESPN+ pay-per-view. Tickets are set to go on sale to the public on Friday, June 2 and will be available through Ticketmaster.com. The event is the result of a partnership with Smith Entertainment Group, the parent company of the Utah Jazz and the Delta Center, among other Utah-centric business entities, and Utah Sports Commission.

No. 13 men’s pound-for-pound fighter Poirier (29-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) is coming off his thrilling submission win over Michael Chandler last year. A dynamic striker and grappler, he also holds spectacular victories against Conor McGregor (twice), Max Holloway (twice) and Eddie Alvarez. Poirier now looks to stop Gaethje once again and take home the BMF belt.

Former interim lightweight champion Gaethje (24-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) has long established himself among the most exciting fighters in MMA. A heavy-handed striker and wrestler, he has earned memorable wins over Chandler, Donald Cerrone and Rafael Fiziev. Gaethje now plans to even the score with Poirier by delivering another highlight-reel KO.

Blachowicz (29-9-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) intends take out another former champion in impressive fashion. Known for his legendary Polish power, he holds notable victories against Israel Adesanya, Luke Rockhold and Dominick Reyes. Blachowicz now hopes for a show-stopping performance to stake his claim for a title shot.

Pereira (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) looks to turn heads at light heavyweight by stopping one of the division’s most decorated athletes. A former kickboxing standout, he holds thrilling KO wins over Adesanya, Sean Strickland and Andreas Michailidis. Pereira now intends to make a statement against Blachowicz to enter the light heavyweight top 5.

Other bouts on the card include:

• Fan favorites collide when Tony Ferguson (25-8 MMA, 15-6 UFC) battles Bobby Green (29-14-1 MMA, 10-9-1 UFC) in lightweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks

• No. 12-ranked welterweight contender Michael Chiesa (16-6 MMA, 11-6 UFC) locks horns with Kevin Holland (24-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) in an intriguing matchup

• Former middleweight title challenger and No. 5-ranked contender Paulo Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) returns to Salt Lake City to face surging Ikram Aliskerov (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)

• No. 7-ranked welterweight contender Stephen Thompson (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) faces No. 15 Michel Pereira (28-11 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in a battle of exciting strikers

• No. 11-ranked heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis (26-11 MMA, 17-9 UFC) aims to take back the UFC knockout record when he meets Marcos Rogerio de Lima (21-8-1 MMA, 10-6 UFC)