“The Highlight” keeps adding to his reel.
Justin Gaethje finished Donald Cerrone by TKO at 4 minutes, 18 seconds of the first round Saturday night in the main event of UFC Vancouver.
Gaethje landed a counter right hand that dropped Cerrone, then followed with three uppercuts and another right hand that put him down for good. Gaethje landed two more punches with Cerrone on all fours, and referee Jerin Valel stepped in to call it off.
Afterward, Gaethje said he wants to fight for the UFC lightweight title next against the winner of a potential fight between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. Gaethje said he’s not interested in fighting Conor McGregor.
“The Irishman is retired,” Gaethje said. “I want a real fighter. I want the winner of Tony and Khabib.”
Gaethje (21-2) has won three in a row, all by first-round KO or TKO, after dropping two straight. The Arizona native has earned his “Highlight” nickname by going to decision only once in 23 career fights. Gaethje, 30, is the former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion and could be poised for a future UFC title shot.
Cerrone (36-12, 1 NC) has lost two straight by stoppage. “Cowboy” was coming off a loss to Ferguson at UFC 238 in June. Cerrone, 36, owns the UFC record for wins (23) and finishes (16) and is a surefire future Hall of Famer. He and Gaethje have trained before and consider each other friends.
“This kid is a stud, man,” Cerrone said of Gaethje. “It’s very hard to fight a friend. What a cool dude. What a cool sport.”