Justin Gaethje did not disappoint in the slightest. All those familiar with his ultra-violent exploits in the World Series of Fighting, which has since been renamed the Professional Fighters League, were promising a great deal from the undefeated 28-year-old. Thrills and spills were forecast, all-out aggression and scintillating savagery. And he delivered it all in his UFC debut on Friday night in Las Vegas.

Gaethje, who held the WSOF lightweight title until his departure from the company, pummeled Michael Johnson to a second-round stoppage in the headliner of The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale, but not before he himself at flirted with brutal defeat on several occasions in what was a wild back and forth slugfest, in other words a Gaethje special. The man knows no other way.

It was a performance that demanded attention and admiration, from fans, members of the media and, indeed, other fighters.

These two guys let it hang & we were lucky to witness it for free!@Justin_Gaethje lived up to the hype & gained thousands of new fans. Wow — Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) July 8, 2017

That's what u call a main event Scrapppppppp!!!! #TUFFINALE — Jon SuperSaiyan Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) July 8, 2017

I had no idea who this guy was!! I was like "who da fuck is this guy in main event on debut" I know why now haha! Fight of year contender — scott askham (@scottaskham1) July 8, 2017

However, the thing that is likely to please Gaethje the most is that he grabbed the attention of the man who still sits atop the UFC’s lightweight division, Conor McGregor.

McGregor, who is deep in camp ahead of his professional boxing debut in August, took to Twitter after the fight with some complimentary words for Gaethje and Johnson.

That was a good contest. Two fighters, fighting. — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 8, 2017

It’s not often that fighters in and around McGregor’s weight class will be afforded such respect from the sharp-tongued Irishman.

At the post-fight press conference, Gaethje, who goes by the very apt nickname ‘The Highlight’, acknowledged McGregor’s post and expressed his admiration for ‘The Notorious’ one.

“It’s been pointed out to me that [McGregor] tweeted tonight about my fight,” Gaethje said. “Real recognize real. That dude’s a warrior, I’m a warrior.”

Gaethje added, however, that McGregor is in his sights.

“If I get the interim belt around my waist — I’ve only got to do that maybe one or two more times, and then, like I said, I’m not going to ask for the money fight; I’m going to be the money fight,” he said. “You sound like a little b*tch when you ask for the money fight.”

“I’m going to earn it, one at a time. I don’t care who’s next. I want to fight Ferguson, but he’ll probably say I’m not worthy. He lost to Michael Johnson. I just finished him. So he’ll be full of sh*t when he says that(via MMAFighting).”

This guy is a wonderful addition to the UFC’s 155-pound landscape.

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