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3. Donald Cerrone, UFC Fight Night 158, September 14, 2019
Gaethje added another knockout to his resume after demolishing Donald Cerrone with a brutal counter-punch late in the first round of their bout at UFC Fight Night 158, in Vancouver. The veteran gunslinger arose back to his feet to be greeted with a shower of strikes.
Referee Jerin Valel refused to stop the fight, presenting the aging cowboy a chance to muster up some energy to give the fans more UFC action. Gaethje was forced to keep hitting his hapless opponent glaring at Valel until the ref finally put a stop to the bout. The fight was hard to watch as Cowboy took some barbaric punishment but Gaethje held back to a degree giving his opponent the respect he deserves.
2. Edson Barboza, UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs Gaethje, March 30, 2019
Gaethje emerged as the underdog for this clash with Brazil’s Edson Barboza, but the American displayed why the dark horse must not be underestimated by laying waste to his foe in the first round. Gaethje and Barboza tested each other’s mettle for the duration of the short contest but Gaethje was proving he had come with a game plan.
The Highlight came flying out of his corner and traded dangerous leg kicks with Barboza. Neither man looked like buckling, trading heavy shots and maintaining a frenetic pace throughout the 150 seconds of violent combat. The Brazilian made the mistake of circling the knockout artist with his guard down, this was his downfall as Gaethje utilized his devastating right hook and another memorable knockout. The American had his 17th knockout in 22 fights and his eyes solely set on the interim Lightweight title.
1. Tony Ferguson, UFC 249, May 9, 2020
Gaethje saved the best performance of his career for the biggest challenge of his career to date. The man that stood in his way of glory was none other than Tony Ferguson. Bet Today USA had Gaethje down as the massive underdog, but once again the Arizona native defied the odds to slingshot him into the upper echelons of the sport.
Kicks, punches, and grunts echoed through the tumbleweed Jacksonville arena. This was the first glimpse of the return of the UFC since the global pandemic and it failed to disappoint. Ferguson carried a 12-fight winning streak into the behind closed doors event and the high-profile fighter looked to scalp another high-profile name to that list.
But Gaethje’s appreciation footwork, devastating trademark leg kicks, and accurate striking stupefied Ferguson. ‘El Cucuy’ was a rabbit in the headlights, swallowing a barrage of strikes and kicks and the punishment was halted in the fifth, with a new 155-pound warrior anointed.
Gaethje battered Ferguson in every round, with Ferguson withstanding a flurry of powerful shots. By the end of the championship fight, both Ferguson’s eyes were swollen and he had a huge gash on his right cheek. For someone who had been coined as a one-dimensional brawler for years, Gaethje put in a stellar, tactical performance. It was the longest fight of Gaethje’s career, and Ferguson deserves the utmost credit for taking such a beating and hanging in there for so long.
With Gaethje’s fight credentials unfolding, at last, the only fight the American has on his radar is Nurmagomedov for the official Lightweight belt, and an entertaining spectacle is all but guaranteed.
