Justin Gaethje’s scary one-shot knockout power has made him a top lightweight contender.
‘The Highlight’ famously left UFC bogeyman Edson Barboza out cold when they fought in March 2019.
It was a fight that improved his KO streak to two in a row after his August 2018 clash with James Vick.
Justin Gaethje knocked out his lightweight rival so badly that his chin was seemingly destroyed forever.
Justin Gaethje melted James Vick with one shot
Gaethje’s career as a top contender was hanging in the balance after back-to-back KO losses against Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez – but he proved he was a legitimate title threat by running through Vick at UFC Nebraska.
The Ultimate Fighter 15 semi-finalist was on a four-fight win streak since Beneil Darisuh KO’d him in 2016.
There were no real signs of fragility until the 9-1 American got cracked by Gaethje after just 87 seconds.
Vick got trapped against the fence before getting caught with a massive overhand right that sent him crashing face-first to the UFC Octagon floor.
Gaethje landed a follow-up shot, but it was not necessary as Vick was wide-eyed and out cold.
The former UFC star has been KO’d four times since facing Gaethje. Most recently, he was left in a coma for ‘a couple of days’ after being caught with a switch kick by fellow MMA veteran Rafael Alves at Karate Combat 47.
What’s next for Justin Gaethje?
Seven years after his fight with Vick, Gaethje remains one of the best 155lb fighters in all of MMA.
Another UFC title fight could be on the horizon if he gets by Dan Hooker in Las Vegas on March 8.
The lightweight duo will clash in an eagerly anticipated five-round co-main event at UFC 313.
Whoever wins will move one step closer to a fight with the division’s champion, Islam Makhachev.
However, they are unlikely to face him next after Ilia Topuria vacated his featherweight title.
According to Ariel Helwani, ‘El Matador’ is in talks to face Makhachev at International Fight Week in June.
“The plan is for Ilia Topuria to fight Islam Makhachev later this year, I’m told. Perhaps as soon as IFW,” the veteran MMA reporter tweeted on Wednesday. “Lots to digest and dissect. Will upload a quick reax video to the channel shortly.”
Whatever happens, Gaethje will be in a great position if he beats Hooker in a couple of weeks time.