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Lightweight Champ Justin Gaethje Sinks Luis Palomino in Another Barnburner at WSOF 23

Luis Palomino for the second time in six months threw everything he had at Justin Gaethje, and it was not enough.

Gaethje retained the World Series of Fighting lightweight championship, as he disposed of Palomino with second-round punches in the WSOF 23 headliner on Friday at the Comerica Theatre in Phoenix. Palomino (23-11, 2-2 WSOF) succumbed to blows 4:30 into round two of the hotly anticipated rematch.

As was the case in their chaotic first encounter on March 28, neither man paid much attention to defense. They traded heavy fire -- Palomino hit the deck on the end of a right uppercut -- in the first round, but Gaethje (15-0, 8-0 WSOF) emerged from the exchanges in better shape.