TUF 25 Finale video highlights: Justin Gaethje survives big trouble to TKO Johnson in all-out war

The marquee matchup for the TUF 25 Finale saw the promotional debut for the former WSOF lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje, who was damn near…

By: Eddie Mercado | 6 years ago
TUF 25 Finale video highlights: Justin Gaethje survives big trouble to TKO Johnson in all-out war
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

The marquee matchup for the TUF 25 Finale saw the promotional debut for the former WSOF lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje, who was damn near finished in the 2nd, just to come back and stop Michael Johnson with strikes at the end of the round.

The opening round of the TUF 25 Finale main event contained more excitement than the rest of the entire card combined. Both Gaethje and Johnson came out hard, throwing with bad intentions while also eating big shots from bell to bell. The second stanza picked up where the first round left off, with Johnson wobbling his foe early in the round, but Gaethje hanging tough and recovering. Gaethje landed a gorgeous uppercut that changed the tide of the fight, and poured on the heat to seal the deal with a knee, and win his long awaited UFC debut. Wow!

Check out Tim Burke’s play-by-play of Justin Gaethje insane UFC debut against Michael Johnson:

Round 2 – Gaethje with a leg kick and lands a left. Johnson fires back with his own left. Gaethje with more kicks. Nice jab from Gaethje. Johnson hurt him again with a right! Gaetje wobbling but didn’t go down! Johnson clinched up and lands a deadly elbow. Gaethje firing back and he’s right there still! Wow. Gaethje gos back to kicking.

Gaethje looking a bit slower now though. Left hook from him though. Hard straight right from the WSOF vet. Johnson working the body. Gaethje with a straight right. Gaethje with a knee to the body. Johnson goes body/head. Gaeethje hurt Johnson with an uppercut! Two more massive shots! Johnson is barely standing up! He just fell down, and Gaethje flipped him off and told him to stand up! Johnson can barely stand but he does. Gaethje batters him into the cage and lands three brutal knees. Johnson crumpled to the mat, totally done, and the fight was waved off. THAT WAS AWESOME.

Justin Gaethje defeated Michael Johnson via TKO (strikes), 4:48 of round 2

Watch Justin Gaethje debut in style:

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Eddie Mercado
Eddie Mercado

Eddie Mercado is a writer and content creator for Bloody Elbow, and has covered combat sports since 2015. Eddie covers everything from betting odds and live events, to fighter interviews and co-hosting the 6th Round post-fight show and the 6th Round Retro. He retired at 1-0 in professional MMA, competed in one Muay Thai match in Thailand, and is currently a purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu under the great Diego Bispo.

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