The Numbers Don’t Lie — Friday’s Main Event Delivered … And Every Strike Was Significant

On Friday, Justin Gaethje and Michael Johnson engaged in an epic battle that is now a strong contender for fight of the year.

In the main event of The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale, Gaethje made his long-awaited UFC debut. Gaethje and Johnson fought in a back-and-forth battle that seemed like either fighter could win at any time.

In the second round, Gaethje recovered from being rocked and managed to stun Johnson with brutal combinations of his own. Eventually, the referee stepped in and awarded Gaethje the TKO victory.

When it comes to the total strikes landed in the fight, Gaethje just barely surpassed his opponent. Gaethje landed 100 significant strikes, while Johnson landed 96 significant strikes of his own. Those four extra significant blows are what helped Gaethje win his UFC debut.

Gaethje is now undefeated with 18 wins and is now a contender in the UFC lightweight division.