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Justin Gaethje promised violence in his UFC debut, and my God, did he deliver.
In an instant ‘Fight of the Year’ frontrunner, Gaethje announced his presence in the UFC lightweight with a thunderous, relentless, outright ridiculous second-round TKO assault over Michael Johnson, capping off The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale with a performance that will go down as an instant classic.
Check out reaction to the madness below, plus the best of the rest from Friday night in Las Vegas.
JUSTIN GAETHJE DEF. MICHAEL JOHNSON
That was a good contest. Two fighters, fighting.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 8, 2017
Wow @Justin_Gaethje you animal!
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) July 8, 2017
YES YES YES YES YES FUUUCCCKKKK YEEEEESSSSSSSSS OMG WHAT A FINISH! #AZMMA
— Anthony Birchak (@abirchakMMA) July 8, 2017
These two guys let it hang & we were lucky to witness it for free!@Justin_Gaethje lived up to the hype & gained thousands of new fans. Wow
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) July 8, 2017
My man @Justin_Gaethje is a mf'n SAVAGE!! That was a beautiful massacre and the people loved every second of it. #TUF25Finale #herossports
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) July 8, 2017
Wow what a fucking fight ladies and gentlemen. Congrats to both of them for an outstanding fight @ufc welcome to the big show Justin .
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) July 8, 2017
So fucking great main event !!!! #TUFFinale25
— Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) July 8, 2017
That's what u call a main event Scrapppppppp!!!! #TUFFINALE
— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 8, 2017
Mike Johnson gave up on himself. Was clearly winning and gave it up
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) July 8, 2017
Love it. That's how tired you should be after a badass performance. pic.twitter.com/1FjWeR2jR7
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) July 8, 2017
Un-fucking-real !!!!! https://t.co/A3BYDnbB43
— patrick cote (@patrick_cote) July 8, 2017
Those dudes deserve a 290k bonus for that fight
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) July 8, 2017
Holy Shit. Respect to both men. Wow #TUFFinale
— Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) July 8, 2017
Most entertaining fight I've seen in a while! @ufc #ufc not sure about the most strategic, but sure was fun to watch! #fight #ufc #mma
— Jordan Rinaldi (@JordanRinaldi) July 8, 2017
I had no idea who this guy was!! I was like "who da fuck is this guy in main event on debut" I know why now haha! Fight of year contender
— scott askham (@scottaskham1) July 8, 2017
People don't realize the amount of great fighters that have come out of #denver . They just got to see another in @Justin_Gaethje . Respect!
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) July 8, 2017
Fight of the year! Damn that was awesome to watch. Gaethjes chin though. #tuf25finale
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) July 8, 2017
Daaaaaannnnmm #TUF25Finale
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 8, 2017
This new guy. Can't spell is name yet. Him vs Ferguson would be heaven !!
— scott askham (@scottaskham1) July 8, 2017
Holy mother of shit! @Justin_Gaethje is one bad ass white boy! @ufc #tuf25finale
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) July 8, 2017
That was a hell of a fight!!! Hats off to both warriors! #TUFFinale
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) July 8, 2017
Holy shit #tuf25
— Louis Smolka (@LASTSAMURAIUFC) July 8, 2017
Best fight I seen in a long time @Justin_Gaethje he'll yeah
— AlexSpartanNicholson (@spartanlife32) July 8, 2017
Jesus. That was 10 minutes of insanity. @Justin_Gaethje is a savage.
— Ryan Hall (@ryanhall5050) July 8, 2017
Now that's a fucking fight #TUF25Finale
— Dom Shonuff Waters (@Shonuff89) July 8, 2017
My gosh what a fight
— Junior Dos Santos (@junior_cigano) July 8, 2017
For the people who don't know @Justin_Gaethje he is like this in every fight and he is still unbeaten so fun to watch unless your his mum
— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) July 8, 2017
That was a good contest. Two fighters, fighting.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 8, 2017
JESSE TAYLOR DEF. DHIEGO LIMA
That is the coolest shit ever, this is what makes MMA so awesome. Congrats Jesse Taylor. @ufc #ufctuffinale #tuf25finale
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) July 8, 2017
How many people would give up after blowing their opportunity? Taylor kept going and made it happen 9 years after blowing it. What a story.
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) July 8, 2017
Congrats @JTMoneyMMA you earned that and everything you have coming your way @ufc
— Neil Magny (@NeilMagny) July 8, 2017
Very rarely get to fuck up your career at 23/24 and get a second chance 9 years later. #ufctuf25finale
— Zebrinha MMA (@EricSpicely) July 8, 2017
Wow man. Very inspiring. Good for you bro. Awesome. And that's all real! #nevergiveup #tuf25
— Andre Soukhamthath (@AndreSoukMMA) July 8, 2017
MMA is the emotional rollercoaster of sports.
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) July 8, 2017
Keep your head up @DhLimaMMA
— Jordan Rinaldi (@JordanRinaldi) July 8, 2017
Decision making....knowin when to engage. Had him hurt. Congrats to Taylor #TUFFinale25
— Danny Roberts #HC (@DanHotChocolate) July 8, 2017
Redemption for Jesse Taylor. Gotta respect that
— Randy Brown (@TouchNgo_) July 8, 2017
What Jesse Taylor is feeling is the best feeling ever, all that hard work coming to fruition....
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) July 8, 2017
9 years later!!! Wow!! What a finish, and what a way to change the fortunes of his life!! #TuffFinale
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) July 8, 2017
Congratz @JTMoneyMMA on earning that REDEMPTION!! #TUF25Finale
— Tarec Saffiedine (@tarecfighter) July 8, 2017
Wow! what a true Redemption story
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) July 8, 2017
Good for Jesse fuckin Taylor what a great come around story!
— Anthony Birchak (@abirchakMMA) July 8, 2017
Super Congrats to @JTMoneyMMA u & ur sons deserve every bit of it! #TUFFinale25 #TUFRedemptionFinale
— Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 8, 2017
DRAKKAR KLOSE DEF. MARC DIAKIESE
I have to say @drakkarklose vs @Marc_Diakiese was pretty bad ass to witness just now @ufc hard one to call
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) July 8, 2017
One of the judges..... pic.twitter.com/hBLVz0np4R
— Gerald Harris (@GHurricane) July 8, 2017
Yessss @drakkarklose Amazing job!!! L-A-B!!! @TheMMALAB #WINNER #UFCFightWeek #fb
— Jocelyn J Lybarger (@mmajocelyn) July 8, 2017
Shittttttttt!!! I have @Marc_Diakiese winning 1 and 3! Gutted for him! He will bounce back
— scott askham (@scottaskham1) July 8, 2017
Great fight @drakkarklose #ufctuffinale
— AlexSpartanNicholson (@spartanlife32) July 8, 2017
Who gave diakese that fight? These judges are so shotttt
— Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) July 8, 2017
Drakkar better not go anywhere Klose to England with comments like that ♂️ #TUFFINALE
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) July 8, 2017
Lol a split decision win should never make you act like that....ever. #TUFFinale
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) July 8, 2017
Damn both guys are great fighters but I think the leg kicks is what did it
— Randy Brown (@TouchNgo_) July 8, 2017
Just heard Klose corner say "sweep the leg!!!!" #TUF25
— Andre Soukhamthath (@AndreSoukMMA) July 8, 2017
@drakkarklose with the hell of a performance and spitting the https://t.co/kpokKLo4wS
— Bret Cooper (@HOVbret) July 8, 2017
Awesome performance from @drakkarklose. That dude won't be walking for a bit. #tuffinale25
— Scott Holtzman (@HotSauceHoltzy) July 8, 2017
Really good fight and a great performance from Drakkar! Dudes gritty as hell and keeps pushing forward. Love that style
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) July 8, 2017
I know he was fired up but how @drakkarklose acted after the fight was classless. Need to think before he speaks
— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) July 8, 2017
DRAKKAR KLOSE MOTHERFUCKERS!!!
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) July 8, 2017
KEEP IT UP DRE!!!
One bad day for us with @Marc_Diakiese loose But soldier never give up bro you still impressed us and you'll come back stronger
— Francis NGannou (@francis_ngannou) July 8, 2017
Good shit ! #Michigan
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) July 8, 2017
JARED CANNONIER DEF. NICK ROEHRICK
What a fight holy smokes !!! #tootough ! #UFCTUFFinale
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) July 8, 2017
How does a guy getting his ass kicked and get more praise than the person kicking ass?
— Gerald Harris (@GHurricane) July 8, 2017
@killagorillamma is sick! #TUFFinale
— Scott Holtzman (@HotSauceHoltzy) July 8, 2017
Great heart by Roerhick.
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) July 8, 2017
The futures too bright. Gotta wear shades.
— Zebrinha MMA (@EricSpicely) July 8, 2017
Well done! @killagorillamma https://t.co/EygP4XL9z7
— BRYAN BARBERENA (@bryan_barberena) July 8, 2017
Savage #TUF25Finale
— scott askham (@scottaskham1) July 8, 2017
That was earlier than yamasakis
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) July 8, 2017
BRAD TAVARES DEF. ELIAS THEODOROU
What the fuck is tan Fabio doing? @ufc #TUF25Finale
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) July 8, 2017
All these fights in the clinch but nobody gets k.o'd. That must be hard to do @ufc
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) July 8, 2017
Great fight @BradTavares sick switches. #goonsquad
— Seth Baczynski (@Sethbmma) July 8, 2017
Congrats Hawaiian @BradTavares #UFCHawaii
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 8, 2017
@BradTavares is one of the most technical guys in the division. #ufctuf25finale
— Zebrinha MMA (@EricSpicely) July 8, 2017
Really impressed with @BradTavares scrambling in that fight! Been a fan since he was on tuf
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) July 8, 2017
Great fight tonight @EliasTheodorou nothing but respect @ufc #TUF25Finale
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) July 8, 2017
JORDAN JOHNSON DEF. MARCEL FORTUNA
Big John missed to huge fight changing fence grabs. He should could have takin a point if both, but should have takin a point for sure. #ufc
— Seth Baczynski (@Sethbmma) July 8, 2017
Great scrap by @doublejmma !!!!! That was an awesome fight
— Joe G (@CapoJoeDG) July 8, 2017
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