Justin Gaethje

In one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, underdog Justin Gaethje took the first round, survived a brutal second in which Topuria battered his body and chased submissions, then turned the fight in the third — dropping and bloodying the previously unbeaten champion. A doctor cleared Topuria after the fourth, but his corner halted the bout, unifying the lightweight title for Gaethje.

Key moments

• Gaethje, a heavy underdog, controlled Round 1 with uppercuts, power jabs and right hands.
• Topuria roared back in Round 2, hurting Gaethje to the body and chasing submissions on the canvas.
• Round 3 swung decisively to Gaethje, who knocked down and badly bloodied an exhausted Topuria.
• A doctor checked Topuria before the fifth and cleared him, but his corner stopped the fight after Round 4 — unifying the lightweight title for Gaethje.

A 25-minute striking war for the interim lightweight title. Gaethje out-landed Pimblett, scored two knockdowns and mixed in takedowns to win clearly on all three cards — claiming an interim belt for the second time and lining up a unification bout with Topuria.

Key moments

• Fought for and won the interim lightweight title — Gaethje's second interim belt.
• Scored two knockdowns and landed 144 of 254 significant strikes.
• Went 3-for-3 on takedowns with nearly six minutes of control time.
• Earned Fight of the Night and a title-unification shot at Ilia Topuria.

The rematch, against a Fiziev who took the fight on roughly 12 days' notice. Fiziev started fast, but Gaethje took over the back half — including a second-round knockdown — to sweep all three cards and go 2–0 in the series.

Key moments

• Fiziev stepped in on about 12 days' notice after Dan Hooker withdrew injured.
• Gaethje scored a knockdown in round two, the fight's biggest blow.
• Pulled away over the final two rounds for a clean 29–28 sweep.

The most dramatic finish of Gaethje's career — on the wrong end of it. Holloway out-boxed him for most of five rounds, then, with the BMF title all but won, pointed to the canvas and invited a final-seconds brawl. Gaethje obliged, and Holloway's overhand right dropped him with one second left.

Key moments

• Holloway controlled most of the fight with faster, more elusive striking.
• In the final ten seconds he pointed to the canvas and waved Gaethje in to trade.
• An overhand right dropped Gaethje face-first with one second left (KO at 4:59 of round five).
• Later named 2024's Knockout of the Year.

A rematch of their 2018 war, and Gaethje needed only one big shot to settle it. Early in the second he hid a right high kick behind a punch; it powered through Poirier's guard, dropped him, and a follow-up sealed the BMF title.

Key moments

• Rematch of their 2018 bout, which Poirier had won by fourth-round TKO.
• A right high kick disguised behind a punch dropped Poirier early in round two.
• Herb Dean waved it off at 1:00 after a follow-up punch closed the show.
• Gaethje became the second-ever BMF champion and avenged the 2018 loss.

A grueling, high-volume striking battle in London. Gaethje out-struck and badly bloodied Fiziev, doing his best work late to edge a razor-thin majority decision in their first meeting.

Key moments

• A back-and-forth striking war that left Fiziev bloodied.
• One judge scored it 28–28, giving Gaethje a 10–8 third round — hence a majority decision.
• Set up the 2025 rematch, which Gaethje also won.

A title fight in Phoenix that turned in a single, chaotic sequence. Gaethje rocked and dropped Oliveira twice in the opening exchanges, only for Oliveira to storm back, land a right hand that wobbled Gaethje, drag him to the canvas, and sink a rear-naked choke for the finish — all inside three and a half minutes.

Key moments

• Gaethje landed early and dropped Oliveira twice in the opening minute, looking like he'd end it fast.
• Oliveira weathered the storm, came back with a right hand that turned the fight, then went for an armbar on the ground.
• Gaethje escaped the armbar but Oliveira immediately took his back and locked in a rear-naked choke.
• The finish at 3:22 of round one handed Gaethje his second consecutive title-fight loss by submission.

A three-round war at Madison Square Garden that many considered the best fight of 2021. Chandler rocked Gaethje in the first and battered him throughout, but Gaethje's relentless low kicks destroyed Chandler's legs and opened cuts all over his face, allowing Gaethje to pull away for a clear unanimous decision.

Key moments

• Chandler badly rocked Gaethje in round one with heavy right hands, nearly finishing him.
• Gaethje's blistering low kicks accumulated damage across all three rounds, badly compromising Chandler's mobility.
• Round two saw Gaethje open up cuts on Chandler's face and take over the fight.
• Both fighters earned Fight of the Night; widely called 2021's Fight of the Year.

A lightweight title unification bout on UFC Fight Island that was shorter than anticipated. Khabib handled Gaethje's striking threat with uncharacteristic confidence on the feet, got a takedown late in round one, then in round two secured a fast takedown, moved to mount, and finished with a triangle choke — before announcing his retirement post-fight.

Key moments

• Gaethje came in as interim champion; the fight was a full lightweight title unification.
• Khabib took Gaethje down late in round one and controlled the rest of the round.
• A lightning-fast takedown to mount in round two ended in a triangle choke at 1:34.
• Khabib retired immediately after the fight, announcing his record was 29-0 and he had promised his mother it would be his last bout.

Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight title by systematically dismantling Tony Ferguson over five rounds. He targeted Ferguson's legs relentlessly with low kicks, stifled his movement, and landed clean power shots to end a 12-fight Ferguson winning streak with a fifth-round TKO.

Key moments

• Filled in as a late replacement for Khabib Nurmagomedov, with the interim title on the line.
• Gaethje's low kicks were the central weapon, chewing up Ferguson's lead leg across the fight.
• Ferguson's legs visibly gave out in round five as a Gaethje jab caused him to stumble backward.
• Herb Dean stopped the fight at 3:39 of round five, ending Ferguson's 12-fight win streak.

Gaethje made it three consecutive first-round finishes with a TKO of Donald Cerrone in Vancouver. He punished Cerrone's lead leg with low kicks from the opening bell, twice floored the veteran with right hands late in the first round, and the referee waved it off after the second knockdown.

Key moments

• Third straight first-round finish for Gaethje, after Barboza and Vick.
• Cerrone's left leg was visibly bruised from Gaethje's early low kicks.
• Two consecutive right hands put Cerrone down late in round one; the second ended the fight.
• The TKO at 4:18 capped a stunning run of form heading into the title picture.

Gaethje steamrolled a dangerous Edson Barboza in the first round in Philadelphia. After an early exchange of leg kicks and clinch work, Gaethje landed a large right hand that sent Barboza down hard; the referee stopped it immediately.

Key moments

• Gaethje's UFC comeback fight after back-to-back losses to Alvarez and Poirier.
• Both fighters exchanged heavy leg kicks in the opening minute.
• A short right hand sent Barboza crashing to the canvas and the referee dived in to stop it at 2:30.
• The knockout launched Gaethje's three-fight first-round finishing streak.

Gaethje snapped a two-fight losing skid with a crushing first-round knockout in Lincoln, Nebraska. Vick tried to use his height and jab to keep Gaethje at range, but Gaethje walked through the resistance, landed a heavy overhand right that folded Vick, and followed up before the stoppage at 1:27.

Key moments

• First fight back after consecutive losses to Alvarez and Poirier; Gaethje needed a statement win.
• Vick attempted to use his longer reach and front kicks to manage distance.
• A crushing overhand right dropped Vick cold at 1:27 of round one.
• Gaethje celebrated with his trademark backflip on the cage.

A candidate for the best UFC fight of 2018. Gaethje's low kicks were destroying Poirier's lead leg through three rounds — including a point deduction for groin shots — but Poirier caught Gaethje with a straight left early in round four that wobbled him, and the TKO followed 33 seconds in.

Key moments

• Gaethje's low kicks accumulated heavy damage on Poirier's leg over the first three rounds.
• Referee Herb Dean deducted a point from Gaethje for repeated low blow fouls in round three.
• Poirier connected with a left hand early in round four that badly staggered Gaethje.
• The TKO at 0:33 of round four ended what many later voted 2018's Fight of the Year.

Gaethje's UFC debut year ended with his first career loss in an all-out war with former champion Eddie Alvarez in Detroit. The two traded freely for nearly three full rounds — Gaethje's leg kicks doing serious damage — before Alvarez finished with a perfectly timed knee to the face in the final seconds of round three.

Key moments

• Gaethje's first career loss, coming in just his second UFC fight.
• Both fighters traded freely from the opening bell in a fight that lived up to its violent billing.
• Gaethje's low kicks battered Alvarez's legs, but Alvarez countered with body shots and hooks.
• A picture-perfect right knee dropped Gaethje at 3:59 of round three, ending the bout.

Gaethje's UFC debut became an instant classic. Johnson rocked him multiple times across two rounds, and each time the crowd expected a finish Gaethje surged back. He ultimately overcame the adversity with a second-round TKO, landing knees and punches in a wild comeback sequence that launched him as an overnight fan favourite.

Key moments

• Gaethje's UFC debut, coming in as the unbeaten WSOF lightweight champion.
• Johnson rocked Gaethje badly in round one; he was rocked again early in round two.
• Gaethje rallied both times, landing a flying knee in the final sequence before punches closed it at 4:48 of round two.
• Named 2017 UFC Fight of the Year and cemented Gaethje's reputation for violent, two-way wars.

Gaethje's final WSOF title defense, headlining at Madison Square Garden on New Year's Eve. Firmino was competitive — taking the first two rounds on at least one scorecard — but an eye injury that worsened across the fight forced the ringside doctor to stop the contest at the end of round three.

Key moments

• Last fight before Gaethje signed with the UFC; his swan song as WSOF lightweight champion.
• Firmino gave him his toughest WSOF challenge, landing heavy shots and threatening with the back mount.
• Firmino's eye sustained damage during the bout that the doctor deemed too severe to continue.
• The doctor's stoppage at the end of round three gave Gaethje the title defense win.

A dominant title defense in which Gaethje used his leg kicks as the primary weapon. He briefly floored Foster with a left hook early on, and when Foster returned to his feet Gaethje targeted the outside of his left knee with repeated kicks until it buckled and the referee intervened.

Key moments

• Gaethje's third WSOF lightweight title defense.
• Briefly knocked Foster down with a left hook in the opening exchanges.
• A series of devastating kicks to Foster's left knee caused it to give way, forcing the TKO at 1:43.
• Gaethje celebrated with his signature post-fight backflip on the cage.

The rematch of their WSOF 19 war, held as the main event in Phoenix. Gaethje and Palomino again traded at a furious pace, but this time Gaethje secured a more decisive second-round TKO finish rather than the grinding third-round stoppage of their first meeting.

Key moments

• Gaethje's third WSOF title defence; Palomino earned the rematch with his strong performance at WSOF 19.
• Another high-volume brawl from the opening bell — neither man stepped back.
• Gaethje ended it more emphatically this time, finishing Palomino in round two at 4:30.
• Reinforced his reputation as WSOF's marquee champion ahead of his UFC move.

A fight named by the Los Angeles Times as the best of 2015 and widely regarded as one of the finest brawls in WSOF history. Gaethje and Palomino traded relentless leg kicks and punches from the first second; Gaethje ultimately wore Palomino down and finished him with a combination of low kicks and punches in round three.

Key moments

• Gaethje's second WSOF lightweight title defense, headlining in Phoenix.
• Both fighters opened simultaneously with leg kicks — the tone was set inside the first seconds.
• Described as one of WSOF's greatest fights; the LA Times named it the best fight of 2015.
• TKO finish at 3:57 of round three set up the rematch at WSOF 23.

A non-title bout after Guillard — a UFC veteran — came in nearly four pounds over the lightweight limit, so 50 percent of his purse went to Gaethje. The competitive split decision went Gaethje's way, with the judges scoring it 28–29, 29–28, and 30–27 in his favour.

Key moments

• Guillard missed weight at 158.8 lbs, nearly four pounds heavy; the title was not on the line.
• Gaethje, already unbeaten, faced his most experienced opponent to date in a UFC veteran.
• Scores of 28–29, 29–28, 30–27 reflected a genuinely competitive three-round contest.
• The win extended his unbeaten record to 14-0 heading into his title defences.

Gaethje's first WSOF title defence, and WSOF's first fight on network television. He dropped the durable Newell with punches, and when Newell slowed in the second round Gaethje dropped him again with a clean right hand — the referee stopping it at 3:09.

Key moments

• WSOF's network television debut; Gaethje's first defence of the lightweight title.
• Newell entered at 11-0 and unbeaten; it was his first career loss.
• Gaethje dropped Newell in the first round, then dropped him again in the second with a clean right hand.
• The TKO at 3:09 of round two kept his unbeaten record intact at 12-0.

Gaethje won the inaugural WSOF Lightweight Championship in emphatic fashion, stopping Patishnock in 69 seconds. He swarmed from the opening bell with a flying knee, staggered Patishnock with a right hook, then landed a hailstorm of uppercuts, knees and standing elbows to force the stoppage.

Key moments

• Gaethje became the first lightweight champion in WSOF history, improving to 11-0.
• Opened with a flying knee on the charge then followed up with right hooks.
• A flurry of uppercuts, knees and elbows forced referee Troy Waugh to step in at 1:09.
• Broadcast live on NBC Sports, raising Gaethje's national profile significantly.

A second-round knockout over the experienced Dan Lauzon that earned Gaethje a shot at the inaugural WSOF Lightweight Championship. Gaethje stopped Lauzon with a right uppercut at 1:40 of round two, adding to his string of finishing performances.

Key moments

• Gaethje's third appearance in WSOF; Lauzon was an experienced opponent with a high finishing rate of his own.
• A right uppercut sealed the knockout at 1:40 of the second round.
• The win earned Gaethje the next shot at the inaugural WSOF Lightweight Championship.
• Improved his record to 9-0 with a near-perfect finishing rate.

Gaethje faced UFC veteran Brian Cobb on the undercard of WSOF 3 in Las Vegas. Cobb was competitive in the early rounds, but Gaethje's accumulating leg kick damage ultimately wore him down and forced the TKO stoppage in the third round.

Key moments

• Gaethje's second WSOF outing, sharing a card with established UFC veterans.
• Cobb controlled portions of the early rounds with takedowns and ground work.
• Gaethje's leg kicks became the defining weapon as the fight progressed, producing the third-round TKO at 2:19.
• Improved his record to 8-0 and signalled his readiness for the WSOF title picture.

Gaethje's World Series of Fighting debut against longtime veteran JZ Cavalcante in Atlantic City. There was no feeling-out process — both men swung hard from the start. Gaethje's power punches opened a severe cut over Cavalcante's eye within two minutes; the ringside doctor examined the gash and determined it was too deep to continue, stopping the fight at 2:27.

Key moments

• Gaethje's WSOF debut against a well-travelled veteran who had competed across Pride, Strikeforce and the UFC.
• Both men came out swinging; Gaethje landed a powerful knee in the opening minute.
• A deep cut over Cavalcante's eye opened from Gaethje's striking — photographs showed the gash was severe.
• Doctor's stoppage at 2:27 of round one improved Gaethje to 8-0 heading into the title picture.

A quick second-round TKO on the Arizona regional circuit, with Gaethje finishing Valdez just 19 seconds into round two. The win continued his unbeaten run on the regional scene ahead of his WSOF debut.

Key moments

• Late 2012 regional fight as Gaethje built his record on the Arizona circuit.
• TKO finish at just 0:19 of the second round — another rapid stoppage.
• Part of a run of three fights in under three months on the Rage in the Cage circuit.
• Helped secure Gaethje's invitation to the World Series of Fighting.

One of the fastest knockouts of Gaethje's career — 12 seconds into round one. Fickett, a UFC veteran, had barely settled when Gaethje landed a three-punch combination — an uppercut, a left hook, and a right hook — that put him down and out.

Key moments

• The opponent, Drew Fickett, was an established UFC veteran, making the quick finish particularly striking.
• Gaethje described the finish as a three-punch combination — uppercut, left hook, right hook.
• The knockout at 0:12 of round one remains one of the fastest in his career.
• Raised his record to 6-0 with the exclamation-point finish over a credentialled opponent.

A second-round rear-naked choke finish in Gaethje's earliest documented professional fight on the Rage in the Cage regional circuit in Arizona. The submission win is an anomaly in a career otherwise defined by striking finishes.

Key moments

• One of Gaethje's earliest professional outings on the Arizona regional circuit.
• Finished by rear-naked choke at 1:58 of round two — a rare submission in his career.
• Gaethje would go on to finish nearly all of his subsequent fights by knockout or TKO.

A three-round unanimous decision on the Ring of Fire regional circuit in Colorado — the only decision win of Gaethje's early career. Edwards went the distance, making him one of a small number of opponents to survive all three rounds against the young Gaethje.

Key moments

• Gaethje's only decision win in his first seven professional fights.
• Ring of Fire 43 was an established Colorado regional promotion where Gaethje built his early record.
• Going three rounds gave Gaethje experience at a longer fight pace ahead of bigger promotions.
• The win kept his unbeaten record intact as he prepared to move up to WSOF.

A second-round TKO on the Ring of Fire circuit in Colorado, with Gaethje stopping Bell at 2:57 of round two. It was his third professional win, extending a finishing streak that would carry through much of his career.

Key moments

• Gaethje's third professional fight, still on the Colorado regional circuit.
• Second-round TKO at 2:57 in another convincing finishing performance.
• Part of an unbeaten run through Ring of Fire that would earn him WSOF attention.

Gaethje's second professional fight, held in Pueblo, Colorado, just six weeks after his debut. He stopped Kelso by TKO in the first round at 4:32, maintaining the finishing tempo that would define his entire career.

Key moments

• Only his second professional fight — six weeks after his KO debut over Kevin Croom.
• First-round TKO at 4:32 in Pueblo, Colorado under the Bring the Thunder MMA banner.
• Another quick finish consistent with Gaethje's destructive early pattern.

Gaethje's professional MMA debut, just two months after finishing his Division I All-American wrestling career at the University of Northern Colorado. When Croom attempted an armbar, Gaethje used his wrestling base to pick him up and slam him to the canvas in Rampage Jackson fashion — the impact ending the fight at 1:01 of round one.

Key moments

• Gaethje's pro debut at age 21, two months after his Division I wrestling career at UNC concluded.
• Croom attempted an armbar; Gaethje countered by picking him up and slamming him to the mat.
• The slam KO at 1:01 of round one showcased his wrestling-to-striking conversion immediately.
• Kevin Croom later became a UFC and Bellator veteran, giving the result retrospective credibility.