In the main event of UFC on ESPN 2, Brazilian lightweight contender Edson Barboza took on Justin Gaethje at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Gaethje knocked out Barboza in the first round 2:30 mark to earn his second consecutive first-round finish.
Both fighters started violently with leg kicks and exchanging nasty blows. In the opening seconds, Gaethje hurt Barboza’s eye with a head kick and then sent him backwards with a flurry of punches. As Barboza was up against the cage, he started circling sideways with his hands down and that’s when Gaethje landed a hard right hand which dropped Barboza and immediately the referee stepped in and stopped the fight.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Justin Gaethje’s knockout victory:
That was well done all the way through.
Congratulations Justin.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 31, 2019
https://twitter.com/MikeBohnMMA/status/1112174773071736833
I started a trend
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) March 31, 2019
Justin Gaethje is the kind of guy who thinks the best way to put out a fire is by swallowing it. What a barbarian. He is everything they tell you not to do in risk management and he beats most of the best fighters on Earth doing it. El rey.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) March 31, 2019
https://twitter.com/RealDannyVitale/status/1112171494128394242
Goodnight!!! Justin was like “Fuck this leg kick shit!! I’m ending this NOW!!”
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) March 31, 2019
wowwww @Justin_Gaethje !!! what a fight!! #UFCPhiladelhpia
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) March 31, 2019
Woooooooow
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 31, 2019
Holy shit! Gaethje nailed that flip off the top of the cage!
— Jonathan of Kowloon & Coloane (@GlobeSvcs) March 31, 2019
Justin Gaethje 😍😍😍
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 31, 2019
Just Gaethje KOs Edson Barboza stiff in the first round.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 31, 2019
He’s not human. He’s like a piece of iron. CONGRATS @Justin_Gaethje #UFCPhiladelhpia
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) March 31, 2019
https://twitter.com/davedoylemma/status/1112175603753443329
“I would not recommend this sport to my worst enemy, but I was born and I was bred to do this. And I will do it till the wheels fall off.”
– Justin Gaethje to Jon Anik afterwards.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 31, 2019
Justin Gaethje is the greatest fighter of all time.
Dunno about that mixed martial arts shit, but as a fighter? There has never been better.
— The Naked Gambler (@NakedGambling) March 31, 2019
Jesus Christ. As advertised. Lawd have mercy. Justin Gaethje. He doesn't have a boring fight to his name. Knocks out Edson Barboza in the first round. #UFCPhiladelphia
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) March 31, 2019
ALSO READ:
UFC on ESPN 2 ‘Barboza vs. Gaethje’ Results – Justin Gaethje Knocksout Edson Barboza in Round 1