Donald Cerrone vs. Justin Gaethje
One of the most exciting fights to be announced this year and rightfully so. Both Donald Cerrone and Justin Gaethje headline the card Saturday night at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
Cerrone being truly a pioneer of the lighter divisions has been a workhorse for years within the UFC and still competing at peak form at the older age of 36. Mixing in a vast array of Muay Thai and kickboxing skills, Cerrone does his best work when being able to control distance and pick apart his opponents from a safe range. When need be, he can also sink in slick submissions such as triangle chokes from the button and rear naked chokes. Cerrone’s biggest weakness comes via fighters who can walk him down and put tons of pressure on him and break him. And there’s might be no better fighter who does that than his opponent.
Justin Gaethje has made himself a name compiled a great record over at his time in the WSOF and joined the UFC during the middle of 2017. He has earned a ‘FOTN’ or ‘POTN’ bonus in every single one of his UFC fights thus far. Holding a record of 3-2 in the UFC so far Gaethje has earned knockout wins over Michael Johnson, James Vick, and most recently Edson Barboza within minutes of the first round. It’s no secret Gaethje has been so successful by walking through anything his opponents throw at him and throwing his own hands and kicks to the body and head. He will have no problem eating shots to deliver his own to get his hand raised. Gaethje does excellent work delivering great body shots and then his opponents dropping their hands a bit to open up the head. Great cardio, cage control, and pressure has given Gaethje much success in his MMA career at 30 years of age.
As for the prediction of this fight I’m definitely leaning towards Justin Gaethje. While Cerrone might have the better variety of strikes in the standup department, he won’t be able to do much peddling backwards and having no room to breathe. Gaethje will immediately step on the gas and never take his foot off until Cerrone wilts from the strikes and pressure Gaethje has. You have to give the durability to Gaethje too – while he has been rocked before he has excellent recovery time and actually covers up well when in the range of being struck by his opponents. I’m picking Justin Gaethje by TKO early on in the fight – probably the second round.
Prop: Justin Gaethje wins by TKO (-150)
