Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Justin Gaethje
After a week off, the UFC returns with a pay-per-view card in Atlanta featuring two title fights, and another fighter looking to become "champ-champ." Jon Litterine breaks down five key bouts.
With another KO, Justin Gaethje improved to 3-2 in the UFC with a 100 percent bonus rate. Richard Mann breaks down his victory by the numbers, along with other key fights from Saturday's card in Philly.
Coming off a KO victory over Dan Hooker, Edson Barboza is looking to get back in the 155-pound title picture with a win over "The Highlight Reel" Justin Gaethje. Jon Litterine previews the card on DraftKings.
A pair of dangerous heavyweights will collide to headline a rare Sunday card on ESPN. Jon Litterine breaks down four key fights from UFC Phoenix and makes his picks for the rest.
Getting through this marathon of an event was a test, but those who did were rewarded with several outstanding finishes on the main card. Richard Mann breaks it down by the numbers.
More Fantasy News
To fight Edson Barboza in Philly
Gaethje has been booked to fight Edson Barboza in a lightweight bout at UFC on ESPN in Philadelphia on March 30, Dave Doyle of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Gaethje just joined the UFC in 2017 and is coming off a first-round knockout over James Vick at UFC Lincoln back in August. Gaethje, however, is still just 2-2 since joining the organization due to suffering back-to-back knockouts from Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier. The March fight pits him against a seasoned UFC veteran in Barboza, who is 13-6 in the UFC since joining all the way back in 2010.
Gaethje just joined the UFC in 2017 and is coming off a first-round knockout over James Vick at UFC Lincoln back in August. Gaethje, however, is still just 2-2 since joining the organization due to suffering back-to-back knockouts from Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier. The March fight pits him against a seasoned UFC veteran in Barboza, who is 13-6 in the UFC since joining all the way back in 2010.
Highlight reel knockout in Round 1 in UFC Lincoln main event
Gaethje defeated James Vick via KO (punch) at 1:27 of Round 1 at UFC Lincoln on Saturday. He picked up a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts.
ANALYSIS
The fight started out with Vick doing a good job controlling the distance with kicks. He was landing body shots at will and even wobbled Gaethje at one point. "The Highlight" stayed patient and leaped in with an overhand right. Vick was unconscious before he hit the canvas. He was so concussed he tried to take Gaethje down after the fight when Gaethje came over to shake his hand.
The fight started out with Vick doing a good job controlling the distance with kicks. He was landing body shots at will and even wobbled Gaethje at one point. "The Highlight" stayed patient and leaped in with an overhand right. Vick was unconscious before he hit the canvas. He was so concussed he tried to take Gaethje down after the fight when Gaethje came over to shake his hand.
Gets replacement opponent in James Vick
Gaethje will now take on James Vick in a lightweight battle at UFC Lincoln on August 25.
ANALYSIS
Gaethje had originally been scheduled to take on Al Iaquinta, but Iaquinta was forced to withdraw due to undisclosed reasons. He'll now get an equally-tough matchup in Vick, a long and large fighter for the 155-pound division. Gaethje will concede six inches in reach and four inches in height, so it might be more difficult than usual to utilize his typical stand-and-trade philosophy. It would be wise to instead lean on his wrestling, as Vick has been taken down five times over his last two fights. Without seeing much wrestling from Gaethje in his first three UFC fights, however, there's no guarantee he's ready to make an adjustment.
Gaethje had originally been scheduled to take on Al Iaquinta, but Iaquinta was forced to withdraw due to undisclosed reasons. He'll now get an equally-tough matchup in Vick, a long and large fighter for the 155-pound division. Gaethje will concede six inches in reach and four inches in height, so it might be more difficult than usual to utilize his typical stand-and-trade philosophy. It would be wise to instead lean on his wrestling, as Vick has been taken down five times over his last two fights. Without seeing much wrestling from Gaethje in his first three UFC fights, however, there's no guarantee he's ready to make an adjustment.
Will no longer fight Iaquinta
Gaethje will no longer face Al Iaquinta in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Lincoln, Nebraska on August 25 as Iaquinta has dropped out due to undisclosed reasons, Ariel Helwani of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Gaethje has lost his opponent for his next scheduled fight. The UFC is currently searching for a new opponent for Gaethje. As of now, it seems the plan is to keep Gaethje in the main event, however more information should come out in the coming weeks as the search for a replacement opponent continues.
Gaethje has lost his opponent for his next scheduled fight. The UFC is currently searching for a new opponent for Gaethje. As of now, it seems the plan is to keep Gaethje in the main event, however more information should come out in the coming weeks as the search for a replacement opponent continues.
To headline Lincoln card against Al Iaquinta
Gaethje will take on Al Iaquinta in a lightweight matchup in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card in Lincoln, Nebraska on Aug. 25, Brett Okamoto of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Gaethje is coming off back-to-back punishing losses and should probably be taking some time off, but will get back into the Octagon for another potentially electrifying matchup in August -- four months after his TKO loss to Dustin Poirier. Iaquinta is coming off a loss as well, though anybody that hangs with Khabib Nurmagomedov for five rounds on short notice is more than impressive. For Gaethje, he would be well suited to utilize his wrestling skills more as opposed to constantly engaging in all-out brawls, but this isn't something he's been willing to do in his career to date. To further complicate the matter, Iaquinta sports a more-than-respectable 77 percent takedown defense. Gaethje's fights continue to be of the fan-friendly variety, but if he's long for this sport, he may need to consider some stylistic adjustments.
Gaethje is coming off back-to-back punishing losses and should probably be taking some time off, but will get back into the Octagon for another potentially electrifying matchup in August -- four months after his TKO loss to Dustin Poirier. Iaquinta is coming off a loss as well, though anybody that hangs with Khabib Nurmagomedov for five rounds on short notice is more than impressive. For Gaethje, he would be well suited to utilize his wrestling skills more as opposed to constantly engaging in all-out brawls, but this isn't something he's been willing to do in his career to date. To further complicate the matter, Iaquinta sports a more-than-respectable 77 percent takedown defense. Gaethje's fights continue to be of the fan-friendly variety, but if he's long for this sport, he may need to consider some stylistic adjustments.