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Five Justin Gaethje Fights To Watch Before UFC 291
“The Highlight” Has Been A Part Of Some Iconic Fights During His UFC Tenure
There may not be a more exciting fighter in the world right now than Justin Gaethje.
After all, the lightweight is known as “The Highlight” for a reason. All-time classic fights and finishes have become somewhat of an expected outcome every time he enters the Octagon. At UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, Gaethje is back in the Octagon for a rematch with Dustin Poirier, this time with the BMF belt on the line.
Order UFC 291: Poirier vs Gaethje 2
Before Saturday’s main event, let’s take a look back at five of his most iconic fights.
Vs Michael Johnson (TUF 25 Finale - Watch On UFC Fight Pass)
Justin Gaethje’s UFC career started off with a bang.
One of the top fights of 2017, Gaethje’s TUF finale win against Michael Johnson was as good of a start to a UFC career as you could ask for.
Within the first few seconds of the fight, the two fighters were already going at it. A left hand from Johnson was met with a right hand and a knee from Gaethje right off the bat, as the two went back and forth in the first round.
How To Watch UFC 291: Poirier vs Gaethje 2
In the second round, Johnson had gotten the better of Gaethje. As the round progressed and Gaethje’s exhaustion became more visible, he dug deep, and with three knees to Johnson’s face in rapid succession, suddenly he was the winner – a style of victory that has been all too common throughout Gaethje’s career.
Vs Dustin Poirier (UFC Fight Night Glendale - Watch On UFC Fight Pass)
UFC 291’s main event is a long-awaited sequel to one of 2018’s best fights.
Five years since these two first faced off, both fighters remain at the peak of their powers and ranked near the top of the division with legitimate title aspirations. Last time they met, it was an explosive affair, with both fighters going blow for blow.
UFC 291 COUNTDOWN: Full Episode | Poirier vs Gaethje | Błachowicz vs Pereira
It was non-stop fireworks when these two last saw each other in the Octagon. While Gaethje was able to hold his own and outperform Poirier for a large chunk of the fight, it was Poirier who found an opening and landed the knockout blow in the fourth round of this main event bout.
Needless to say, Gaethje will be looking for payback at UFC 291.
Vs Michael Chandler (UFC 268 - Watch On UFC Fight Pass)
Gaethje’s fight with Michael Chandler was as textbook of an example of the energy and style that he brings to every fight as you could find.
As usual, Gaethje brought the explosiveness early, wasting no time to go on the attack against Chandler. It was non-stop action from the first minute through the final minute in this bout, with the two going the distance in a decision win for Gaethje, a relatively unusual method of victory for him.
Perhaps most important to Gaethje in this fight was his wrestling ability. The former NCAA Division I wrestler at Northern Colorado relied heavily on his background in this fight against Chandler.
Vs Tony Ferguson (UFC 249 - Watch On UFC Fight Pass)
The night that Justin Gaethje earned the interim lightweight championship was a special one.
Unlike many Gaethje fights, win or lose, where he takes a significant beating from his opponent in addition to the significant damage he deals, this bout was different. Gaethje dominated Tony Ferguson from the very start through the fifth-round stoppage.
RELATED: Poirier vs Gaethje 2 Breakdown
Landing 100 significant strikes to his opponent’s head and 143 in total, this was an all-out display of Gaethje’s abilities on one of the most important nights of his UFC career.
Vs Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje - Watch On UFC Fight Pass)
Justin Gaethje made quick work of a UFC legend in Vancouver back in 2019.
In the main event of this Fight Night, Gaethje took on Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, now a member of the UFC Hall of Fame. In typical Gaethje fashion, he started off the fight swinging and did not let up from then on. The fight was stopped just four minutes in after Gaethje’s dominant performance.
This was a night that solidified Gaethje as a household name not only in the lightweight division, but in the sport, as a whole.
UFC 291: Poirier vs Gaethje 2 took place live from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 29, 2023. See the Final Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!
