For hardcore fans, few recent lightweight UFC signings have come with as much anticipation as that of Justin Gaethje. The 28-year-old Trevor Wittman trained fighter has stormed through the early years of his MMA career. A former All-American DI wrestler, Gaethje hit the ground running in 2011 with a slam KO of Kevin Croom, and (now 17-0) hasn’t looked back since.
Gaethje won the World Series of Fighting (currently Professional Fighters League) lightweight title in 2014, with a KO of Richard Patishnock, and went on to defend the belt 5 times over the next three years.