Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC
Justin Gaethje continued his lightweight destruction earlier tonight (Sat., Sept. 14, 2019) at UFC Fight Night 158 live on ESPN+ from inside Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, when he ended Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone via first-round TKO (punches).
While Cerrone landed some good jabs throughout this fight the action was dictated by an advancing Gathje and his devastating leg kicks. Gaethje punished “Cowboy” from the early going as Cerrone’s leg started to bruise. “Highlight” mixed in some good uppercuts inside as well that put the veteran lightweight on notice.
Towards the end of the first round Gaethje clipped Cerrone with a huge right hand counter and the veteran fell to the canvas. Cerrone would get back up but Gaethje fired another right that knocked Cerrone down and allowed “Highlight” to secure the impressive first-round TKO finish.
Check out the finish above courtesy of UFC/ESPN.
With this performance, Gaethje locks down his third consecutive first-round knockout finish after finishing James Vick and Edson Barboza before this. “Highlight” has really looked like a more complete fighter since losing back-to-back fights in 2017-2018 and has all the momentum to next challenge for the UFC lightweight title.
Of course, a meeting with Conor McGregor could also be in the works. It already was.
For complete UFC Vancouver results and coverage click here.