Justin Gaethje is a name that rings loud and clear in the world of mixed martial arts. Known for his fiery and passionate speeches, he’s often the one to deliver them. He’s a savage competitor, hailing from Safford, Arizona. For over six years, he’s been spreading his message far and wide.
Gaethje is a powerhouse in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight division. His bouts are often a spectacle of violence that come in bursts. When he finds a willing opponent, the results are nothing short of breathtaking. One such instance was the UFC 286 co-main event. Here, Gaethje, the former World Series of Fighting champion, squared off against Rafael Fiziev. The match, held on March 18 at the O2 Arena in London, was a sight to behold. Especially the first round.
Sherdog’s resident wordsmith, Jay Pettry, described the round as it unfolded. Fiziev started off with a body kick, which Gaethje deftly avoided. Gaethje then retaliated with a vicious low kick, causing Fiziev to spin around. The two fighters were uncharacteristically tentative at first. But soon, they were trading heavy punches and kicks. The round ended with Fiziev landing a jump knee on Gaethje’s face. It was a veritable car crash of an exchange.
This first round set the tone for the rest of the fight. It was a clear contender for “Fight of the Year”. The second round was evenly matched, leading to the decisive third round. Here, Fiziev seemed to have the upper hand initially. He landed a clean one-two punch on Gaethje, followed by a sharp front kick to the body. But Gaethje wasn’t going down without a fight.
Gaethje found another gear in the final five minutes. He turned the round into a blowout, earning a 10-8 on judge Paul Sutherland’s scorecard. Gaethje’s crushing jab came into play, paired with uppercuts that sent spit and blood flying. He also executed a tactical takedown in the closing seconds. This forced Gaethje to go the distance for just the fourth time in his career. He left the cage with a majority decision and a $50,000 bonus for “Fight of the Night”. Fiziev, on the other hand, was left a bloody mess, bearing the brunt of the 103 significant strikes he absorbed.
Gaethje reflected on the fight, “My coach told me… I heard him saying, ‘Stay on the jab.’ Once I landed the first three, I couldn’t believe how clean I was landing,” he said. “There’s different kind of shots that you land in there. When you feel the full force of energy go in direct lines through their head, it’s a different shot. That’s what I was feeling. He wanted to taste my blood, but unfortunately [for him], he was drowning in his blood. I’m happy about that.”