Holloway earned the BMF” title and probably the most violent knockouts in UFC historical past.
Within the waning seconds of the battle, Holloway pointed to the middle, swung, and faceplanted an obliging Gaethje unconscious – with one second left on the clock in Spherical 5.
Each fighters had been maybe extra cautious than anticipated in Spherical 1. Holloway confirmed off calculated persistence and delightful point-fighting, whereas Gaethje returned with some onerous boxing of his personal.
A pivotal second occurred on the finish of Spherical 1. Because the horn sounded, Holloway landed a leaping again kick. His heel dug into the nostril of Gaethje, who held his face as he walked again to his nook. The injury was obvious because the reduce man attended to him between rounds.
Issues received worse for Gaethje in Spherical 2. As if being unable to breathe wasn’t unhealthy sufficient, Holloway poked him twice, as soon as in every eye. Referee Marc Goddard known as timeout on every foul, however didn’t take a degree.
In Spherical 3, Holloway landed some onerous pictures. Gaethje struggled to search out rhythm. The velocity benefit was apparent in Holloway’s favor.
Issues received just a little extra attention-grabbing in Spherical 4 because the monotony of a Holloway hanging showcase was damaged. Gaethje landed a proper hand that knocked Holloway down. It was the primary registered knockdown towards Holloway in. his profession.
Earlier than Spherical 5, coach Trevor Whitman tried to encourage his fighter, Gaethje, and known as for aggression all through the ultimate 5 minutes.
Holloway flipped that script although and surprised Gaethje with a violent, speed-changing mixture. Holloway drilled the physique with two punches, however Gaethje stayed upright and waved Holloway on.
Within the remaining seconds, Holloway turned again time to his well-known swing-for-the-fences second with Ricardo Lamas from 2016 – solely this time with an alternate ending. Holloway knocked Gaethje unconscious with a large overhand proper.
Holloway, 32, prolonged his profitable streak to a few, a stretch that additionally consists of victories over Arnold Allen and Chan Sung Jung.
Gaethje, 35, has a two-fight profitable streak snapped. He entered off consecutive victories over Rafael Fiziev and Poirier.
