Gaethje stops Cerrone in 1st, requires title shot

“The Spotlight” retains including to his reel.

Justin Gaethje completed Donald Cerrone by TKO at four minutes, 18 seconds of the primary spherical Saturday night time in the principle occasion of UFC Vancouver.

Gaethje landed a counter proper hand that dropped Cerrone, then adopted with three uppercuts and one other proper hand that put him down for good. Gaethje landed two extra punches with Cerrone on all fours, and referee Jerin Valel stepped in to name it off.

Afterward, Gaethje mentioned he desires to combat for the UFC light-weight title subsequent towards the winner of a possible combat between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. Gaethje mentioned he is not keen on preventing Conor McGregor proper now.

“The Irishman is retired,” Gaethje mentioned. “I would like an actual fighter. I would like the winner of Tony and Khabib.”

Nevertheless, Gaethje mentioned later that if McGregor needed to combat, he would have an interest.

“If [McGregor is] going to combat, I positively wish to combat him. He punched an previous man within the face. I wish to f— him up for that,” Gaethje mentioned.

Up till the end, Gaethje was profitable the battle on the ft at Rogers Area in Vancouver, British Columbia. He outlanded Cerrone 40-17 in important strikes, in accordance with UFC Stats. Gaethje was touchdown arduous combos and leg kicks. Cerrone acquired by way of with a mixture or two of his personal, however Gaethje was main. Cerrone overextended with a mixture, and Gaethje landed the precise hand that began the ending sequence.

Gaethje truly acquired upset with Valel within the ending sequence, as a result of he thought the referee ought to have stepped in earlier. Cerrone, in the meantime, complained that it was known as too quickly — he needed to maintain going.

“Each time I stroll out right here, I query all the things on goal,” Gaethje mentioned. “I feel they’re higher than me, I feel they’re working tougher than me. I’ve one thing to show each time I come out right here.”

Added Cerrone on the ESPN+ postfight present: “It sucks to get your ass whupped that quick.”

Gaethje (21-2) has gained three in a row, all by first-round KO/TKO, after dropping two straight. The Arizona native has earned “The Spotlight” nickname by going to resolution solely as soon as in 23 profession fights and profitable 18 instances by KO/TKO. He is tied for essentially the most knockouts at light-weight since 2017 (four). Gaethje, 30, is the previous World Sequence of Preventing light-weight champion and may very well be poised for a future UFC title shot. He is ranked No. 5 amongst MMA lightweights by ESPN.

Cerrone (36-12, 1 NC), who got here in ranked No. four at light-weight by ESPN, has misplaced two straight by stoppage. “Cowboy” was coming off a loss to Ferguson at UFC 238 in June. Cerrone, 36, owns the UFC document for wins (23) and finishes (16) and is a surefire future Corridor of Famer. He and Gaethje have educated collectively earlier than and think about one another pals.

“This child is a stud, man,” Cerrone mentioned. “It’s extremely arduous to combat a pal. What a cool dude. What a cool sport.”