Justin Gaethje proved HE was the ultimate fighter as he outlasted Michael Johnson in TUF 25 finale main event.
Fan friendly
Justin Gaethje has arrived in the UFC with a bang. Gaethje came into the organisation with a reputation for crazy back-and-forth battles. It is one thing going hammer and tongs with fighters at a World Series of Fighting level. It's completely different thing coming into the UFC against a top five lightweight and putting on the same kind of show.
Relentless
Gaethje style will make him an instant fan favourite. Fans love exciting fighters. Gaethje is exciting and then some. His relentless forward pressure and all-action style forces opponents to fight. And Michael Johnson put up one hell of a fight.
Whatever Johnson's plan was before the event, went out of the window once the contest was underway. Johson was in "Gaethje's world". They were both throwing huge punishing blows from the opening bell. Neither man was willing to give. Johnson almost threatened to out-Gaethje, Justin Gaethje. But Gaethje, despite looking out-on-his-feet in the second round, rallied with a series of uppercuts that spelt doom for his opponent. By the end of the second round, Johnson was in a crumbled heap in the corner as Gaethe rained blows onto him.
Not all brawl
Gaethje style is all action, but is not all mindless brawn. From the outset, Gaethje chopped Johnson down some clever leg kicks that slowly restricted Johnson's movement during the fight. While Johnson was enjoying success with his hands, he became indifferent to his own lack of movement. Johnson became stuck in the mud drunk off the series of combination he was landing on Gaethe. Absorbed in his own striking success, Johnson couldn't see that his energy gauge was depleting to zero. That is what Gaethje does. He uses his opponents hubris against them. While your teeing off on him, he is teeing off on you, he can take your firepower... can you take his?
No equal?
After the fight, Gaethje - the undefeated, 18-0, UFC debutant - threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the UFC lightweight division,
Where is my equal at?
Style-wise Gaethje probably has no equal. There are certainly better technical fighters than Gaethje. Even in the lightweight division. However you'd struggle to find one that is more exciting.
Short shelf-life?
However Gaethje's style comes at a price. He knows, probably more than anyone, that it is only a matter of time before he gets knocked out. Fighting the way he fights eventually his body will have to give. Johnson came close to delivering the knock out blow to Gaethje twice in last night's fight. At the end of the first round and middle of the second Gaethje looked like he had rolled the dice one too many times.
But Gaethje does what he does. He digs deep into his soul to survive. Then his takes his opponent's soul. Johnson was bloodied and well beaten by the end of the content.
Michael Johnson will only have a handful of fights like that in his career. It seems every fight for Gaethje is a career-shortening slug fest. The UFC fans will love the Gaethje ride while it lasts. We all hope it lasts as long as possible. Equally, we hope that when the ride ends he departs with his health and faculties in tact.
Gaethje claimed after the fight that he was 'unbreakable'. He seems hell bent on testing his theory to it's limit.
He picked him apart with the body shots. Justin seems to have a lot of physical strength. Everybody is bound at some point to become another man's highlight reel. Noone is unbeatable. Personally I think Justin would look like food to Ferguson Barboza Khabib or Nate
Nice comment man tnx
A Justin Gaethje and Nate Diaz fight sounds amazing. Neither one of those guys give up.
Great fight. I think everyone loses eventually in the UFC though so his time will come. Like you said fighting the way he does his body will eventually give.
like when Anderson Silva lost his first fight... I knew then he was not divine lol.
For me it is Jon Jones, to me he is still omnipotent. His only loss was by dq against Matt Hamill for kicking a downed opponent in the head. Without that silly mistake he would have had that fight also.
I can't argue with that. I met him once and was a dick. I always Wanted him to lose agter that but a DQ doesnt cut it for me. He is still undefeated and i hate thsy politics (and his dumb decisions) keeps him from fighting
Yeah he isn't the smartest outside of the octagon.
Reminds me of the old days like Tank Abbot and Cabbage. Didnt stick around but should win fight of the night bonus for sure. Besides that 18-0 record is impressive for now.
I remember cabbage. He was such a character, if he got tagged hard to the head he would just smile at his opponent.
What an action-packed ridiculously brawl! Both fighters one Toto the whole night. And that was by far one of the best debuts in UFC history. For a while there it started to remind me of Forrest Griffin verse Stefan Bonner in the tug finale!! When the fight started I was nodding out trying to stay awake but once the bell rang holy cow was I awake. Both fighters did a great job and deserve the fight of the night bonus! This kid is going to make a run for the title. What do you think about Connor McGregor versus Floyd Mayweather
Jeez. That fight was sooo sloppy. They both proved they have no business calling out McGregor. He'd dismantle both these guys easily. Poor defense, little head movement. Was like a rock em sock em match. Both gassed out fast. Poor mgmt of cardio. Entertaining to a degree but technical it was not.
Those knees.... "WHO's NEXT... WHERE's MY EQUAL" LOL
Good read! Hope you'll make an article about Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor 😎
I said it he will walk trough M.Johnson... Justin takes risks, and they pay off big time!
Wonder if Tony will fight him next or what?!?!?!?
Nice post thank you for the share...
We wait the new and good lock
Great fight!!
Gaethje vs Tony would be an awesome fight. Khabib is supposedly going back into training camp but I doubt Dana would want to give him a big fight after his failure to make weight last time. However, why not let Gaethje prove himself within the UFC fanks before letting him fight against Tony who was going for a shot at the interim title. Like you said, a Nate fight would be equally exciting and who wouldnt want to see him fight again?
Karlos Vemola is better
mad win, upvote my account @biggy345 ,love
God, how I love boxing! I admire the martial arts), although many say that it's dirty, and men like animals! I do not agree) P.s. THANL ALOT FOR YOU SUPPORT!
Impressive achievements and good article on your part
Wow, I'm not a big follower of the UFC, but this is a guy to keep an eye on. Your breakdown of the fight was awesome. The best point to me, was the question "how long will the ride last?" You are right. I don't care how tough you are, you can't have a long career fighting like you explained. Luckily for him, he seems to be just getting started. As he moves up, it is going to get harder and harder. I know that his bravado will earn him some sponsor dollars, so he better save while the getting is good and hopefully retire, like you said with his health. Great post. Thanks for teaching me something new. I really appreciate all the support on my posts. It means a lot. More than you probably know.
Wow! Fascinating events in sports! Thank you @nanzo-scoop! I appreciate your support!
He should fight Khabib, winner of that fight is on McGregors plate if he comes back to mma. Maybeeee
This was the most unbelievable fight, I though he was gone when he went all Jelly legs in the first round. Amazing effort to stay standing and then win. How about that fence climb, third time lucky
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SUPERGOAL
He's a tough man took some big hits on the chin and just shook it off. Thanks for sharing.
Gaethje doesn't know how to be in boring fights.
That dude is an absolute monster
Nate Diaz, PLEASE. Who you got on Lawler vs Cowboy?