This is my love letter to the Highlight, the Violent one, my personal BMF champion, Justin Gaethje. My feelings for you started off shaky when you beat up on a one armed fighter who I had become attached to for some time, but oh have things changed since. You have only had to hear those horrible judges speak twice in your MMA career, you are an incredible wrestler that knows his fans and refuses to take things to the ground, even in defeat people can’t walk for days after fighting you. I would rather have Francis Ngannou punch me as hard as he can in the face than have you kick me in the leg (mostly because I would be dead and feel no pain).
You have had two tough losses in your career, one to a lightweight champion and one to an interim champion. Those losses didn’t set you back, they made you stronger. Some people thought “Alright Justin, maybe its time to use some of that college wrestling we know you have in your arsenal” but you replied with an ever so emphatic “Go fuck yourself” and continued to improve your standup and get smarter on your feet. Now, those same naysayers are saying you might have the best chance to take out Khababy.
I’ll own up to it, I thought Cowboy was going to take that last fight, and I feel horrible for thinking that. I underestimated just how elite your standup has become. I have already said 10 Hail Gaethjes to repent for my sins and promise there is no opponent you can have in the future that I would pick over you. I wear your Violent One hat with pride on fight days and will continue for as long as you are taking the souls from your enemies. I have been praying to my gods, Dana White and Sean Shelby, to give match you up against McGregor every night since Saturday, the only thing you deserve more than that payday is UFC gold around your waist.
I cannot think of very many fighters that can perfectly balance talent with sheer entertainment as soon as they enter the cage as well as you. We are stuck in an era of champions refusing to fight and putting on slow grind out performances when they do show up. Outside of Holloway and Stipe (just the men’s divisions, the women put on a fuckng show for the belt) these champions just don’t have the flare in the octagon that you offer (love Bobby Knuckles but he barely fights because of injuries and Bones’ last performance put a bad taste in my mouth). I hope the UFC does right by you and doesn’t make you take another fight before the Irish meal ticket or the Dagestani wankster. With that I hope my appreciation is known, and I wish you the best of luck.
No homo.