When Justin Gaethje made his MMA debut in 2011, he quickly became a formidable opponent. He competed in promotions including World Series of Fighting (WSOF) and Rage in the Cage. He did, however, make the most headlines in the UFC. Here is an overview of Gaethje’s greatest MMA fights, which will occur at UFC 300 when he challenges Max Holloway for the BMF title.
The problem in compiling a list such as this one for Justin Gaethje is not so much what to include as what to omit. Fortunately, the top action hero in the lightweight division has fought some of the most unforgettable UFC bouts.
Also Read: Will Justin Gaethje Make More Money Than Max Holloway at UFC 300?
Some Of The Best UFC Wins Of Justin Gaethje
- Justin Gaethje vs Palomino (2015): Gaethje’s impressive results in WSOF attracted the attention of UFC President and CEO Dana White. 2015 saw Gaethje put all of his skills on display as he defended his lightweight championship against the hard-hitting Luis Palomino. Gaethje appeared unprofessional by using knees, elbows, and sharp boxing.
Above all, Gaethje demonstrated why he is among the top leg kickers in the world. Fans witnessed Gaethje use his whole toolkit, pounding Palomino’s legs and shins with his feet. Palomino was downed by a vicious kick that set him up for Gaethje to knockout him with punches in the third. The MMA world was pretty much put on notice by this vicious Gaethje.
- Gaethje vs Michael Johnson (2017): Michael Johnson is a boxer who doesn’t often display signs of aging or exhaustion. But in 2017’s UFC debut, Gaethje showed him they were both human. Gaethje dismantled Johnson’s hands and feet with remarkable accuracy. Johnson threw with all of his might while consuming shots.
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With his refusal to take the mat and his ability to stuff Johnson’s takedowns, the “Highlight” had something extra in the bag. Johnson was held against the cage by Gaethje, who then struck him with uppercuts, elbows, knees, and kicks.
With his second-round TKO, fans dubbed Gaethje a potential contender for the UFC lightweight title because of his exacting accuracy. In what can only be called a full-fledged war of attrition, it emerged victorious in the Fight of the Night, Performance of the Night, and Fight of the Year categories.
- Gaethje vs James Vick (2018): Johnson was tossed into the fire, followed by Gaethje. Though he wasn’t as successful as Dustin Poirier or Eddie Alvarez, he did manage to stop a 13-1 James Vick. Gaethje demonstrated how his footwork could help him reduce the size of the octagon by cutting angles.
He cornered Vick and gave him a two-piece combo. The overhand right took out Vick, causing Gaethje to fall to the ground and give him another opportunity. It didn’t matter because Vick was already dead. But years later, Jorge Masvidal reiterated that Gaethje was a power hitter and finisher by saying that these kinds of shots are “super necessary.”
- Gaethje vs Cowboy (2019): The match against Donald Cerrone propelled Gaethje into a championship match. Unfortunately, fans didn’t anticipate it to be as competitive as it was. As Cerrone squared up against Gaethje in the opening round, the latter struck with a few elbows, an overhead blow, and a barrage of punches as he felled “Cowboy.”
Gaethje asked the referee to end the fight after pausing a few times. It’s one of Gaethje’s rare moments of kindness. It doesn’t take away from his potential for decisiveness and clinicalness. Gaethje’s fast finish meant that the UFC was forced to give him another chance to win Performance of the Night.
- Justin Gaethje vs Ferguson (2020): Tony Ferguson was the temporary gold medallist who was used as a punching bag by the “Highlight” for five rounds. Due to COVID-19, there was no crowd in the arena when Gaethje’s photos were taken. Many people on the internet begged for the towel to be thrown in because it was so embarrassing.
Ferguson offered no reply at all. Gaethje would first taste gold metal when the TKO was declared in the fifth round. In addition to seeing Gaethje win Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night, it also set up the Nurmagomedov unifier. The bad news was that Ferguson’s career took a nosedive due to this beating. Many people think Gaethje stole a significant portion of his soul, changing him forever.
Also Read: Who Has Justin Gaethje Lost To In The UFC?
