Watch Eddie Alvarez vs. Justin Gaethje full fight video highlights from UFC 218’s main card above, courtesy of FOX Sports.
UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo 2 took place Dec. 2 at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Former WSOF lightweight champion Justin Gaethje (18-1) faced off against former UFC and Bellator titleholder Eddie Alvarez (29–5, 1 NC) on the night's main card, which aired live on pay-per-view. Catch the video highlights below.
For more on Alvarez vs. Gaethje, check out the play-by-play courtesy of MMA Fighting's Alexander K. Lee.
Round 1: Referee Herb Dean out to referee this fight. Leg kicks from both fighters to start. Alvarez throwing hands first, Gaethje looking to land a big right hand. Straight jabs by both men coming in hot. Alvarez lands a hook while evading one of Gaethje’s. Brief trip, but Gaethje is up and coming forward. He connects with shots to Alvarez’s body. Alvarez staying out of the way of Gaethje’s right hand, landing jabs. More hooks from Gaethje and Alvarez is moving his head to avoid getting cracked. Gaethje pops him with a jab. Leg kick by Gaethje connects. Alvarez going low to the body. Gaethje comes over the top, Alvarez lands a few jabs. Another quick trip but this one isn’t going to the ground anytime soon. Gaethje’s nose is bloodied, as is Alvarez’s cheek. Both men mixing up their attacks. Alvarez gets in a rhythm and lands a combination before Gaethje sends him back with a straight shot. Alvarez swarms, Gaethje avoids any serious damage. More body shots from Alvarez, then he goes up top. Blood trickling down from Gaethje’s left brow now. Alvarez falls, but it looks like it was more of a push than a knockdown. Good back-and-forth action in Round 1.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Alvarez.
Round 2: Alvarez opens with a straight right. Gaethje backing him up, trying to cut off the cage. Left hook by Alvarez connects, he follows a three-punch combo. Gaethje approaching with the jab. Solid exchange of leg kicks. Right hand hits Gaethje right on the chin, but he keeps coming forward. Hook by Gaethje lands inside. Alvarez still throwing and connecting more. Knee to the body by Gaethje followed by a left hook. Alvarez answers with body shots. Gaethje throwing that overhand right, but Alvarez’s movement is preventing it from landing cleanly. Alvarez getting the better of the exchanges in close. Alvarez’s body shots are visibly hurting Gaethje now. Still Gaethje refuses to back down and he’s firing back with winging shots. He’s tough as nails, as advertised. Alvarez gets a hold of Gaethje’s head and lands some short punches. He’s doing an excellent job of making Gaethje’s best strikes miss. Gaethje somersaults as he’s pushed back and gets kicked right in the mush as he stands.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Alvarez. Overall 20-18, Alvarez.
Round 3: Leg kick by Gaethje. Alvarez lands a right hook, but Gaethje connects with two more leg kicks and it looks like they definitely affected Alvarez. He’s looking to chop away at Alvarez’s left leg now. Gaethje pushes him down and challenges Alvarez to stand up. Alvarez’s leg is a mess right now and he’s hesitant to lead with it. Another low kick by Gaethje. Alvarez trying to get inside again where he’s had success with uppercuts in close. Head kick by Gaethje followed by another low one. Alvarez staying right in Gaethje’s face now. Spinning backfist misses. Gaethje goes for a shot and Alvarez makes him pay with a slick back take. They scramble and it’s back to the standup. Gaethje shreds Alvarez’s leg with another kick. Uppercut by Gaethje. Another leg kick and Alvarez buckles, but he stands, waving his finger. They’re doing some grappling against the fence, though there’s no real commitment to a takedown. Gaethje throws an uppercut to get the crowd going again. Alvarez crushes Gaethje with a knee and he hesitates before convincing Dean to call off the fight with some ground-and-pound.
Official result: Eddie Alvarez def. Justin Gaethje via TKO (knee and ground punches) at 3:59 of Round 3
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