Justin Gaethje defeated his friend Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone by TKO in the first at UFC on ESPN+ 16 in Vancouver, BC. Gaethje wanted the fight stopped sooner and Cowboy wanted it stopped later; referee Jerin Valel met them in the middle, apparently satisfying neither in the moment.
Afterward, the two expressed profound mutual respect, and Gaethje announced that Conor McGregor was retired, so he wants his shot at lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov before ‘The Eagle’ retires.
And Twitter reacted.
IT HAPPENS NOW! 🤯
Cowboy – Gaethje only E+! #UFCVancouver pic.twitter.com/dRBbpkiXB6
— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2019
Dropped Cowboy to his knees!! #UFCVancouver pic.twitter.com/Rjd1j0tzSi
— Combat Sports Global (@ChampSportsProd) September 15, 2019
Man @Justin_Gaethje is GOAT
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) September 15, 2019
MOST LIGHTWEIGHT KNOCKOUTS – 2017 to Present
(Gaethje's UFC debut year)
4 – Justin Gaethje
4 – Dan Hooker
3 – Dustin Poirier
3 – Paul Felder
3 – Gregor Gillespie#UFCVancouver— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) September 15, 2019
TKO! @justin_gaethje put down Donald Cerrone in the first, but was not happy about the stoppage #UFCVancouver pic.twitter.com/BrxPV0G8cz
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 15, 2019
Gaethje knocks out Cerrone in the first and yells "f*** you" at Jerin Valel afterwards for not stopping it earlier.
He had to land unnecessary shots to a man who he deeply respects.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) September 15, 2019
The stoppage was right.
— Nina Ansaroff (@NinaAnsaroff) September 15, 2019
Good stoppage. What a show by the highlight. @Justin_Gaethje
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) September 15, 2019
Wow Justin is a monster!!!!!
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 15, 2019
Mannn new patient Gaethje is a nightmare for everyone!!
He can take a ridiculous amount of punishment. Cardio for days. Beats up your leg with brutal kicks which forces you to close the range where he has hands of stone that you have to watch out for.
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) September 15, 2019
I loved how Trevor Wittman, Gaethje’s coach, came in and put ice on Cowboy. Wittman has held pads for Cowboy countless number of times. He thought Cowboy would bring the best out of Gaethje.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) September 15, 2019
After their fight, @Justin_Gaethje's coach @TrevorWittman puts ice on @Cowboycerrone #UFCVancouver (h/t @bokamotoESPN) pic.twitter.com/TzfyIeEwEl
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 15, 2019
Know what? Justin Gaethje isn’t much of a brawler anymore. He’s been pretty darn efficient in knocking out James Vick, Edson Barboza and now Donald Cerrone, all in the first round. #UFCVancouver
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) September 15, 2019
Donald Cerrone is all class. #UFCVancouver pic.twitter.com/SufwGIymdv
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) September 15, 2019
"I want the winner of Tony and Khabib."@Justin_Gaethje is coming for the strap! #UFCVancouver pic.twitter.com/j6DuA4009C
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) September 15, 2019
