Justin Gaethje

Justin Gaethje finally has the belt that his highlight reel always deserved. The UFC lightweight champion built a career on the most fan-friendly contract in fighting: he takes one to land two, and the two land harder. 21 of his 28 wins are knockouts, and no Gaethje fight — win or lose — has ever been boring. It's a physical impossibility.

The base is Division I wrestling from Northern Colorado, which 'The Highlight' famously uses in reverse: instead of taking opponents down, he uses it to keep the fight standing, where the leg kicks chop and the uppercuts detonate. His fights with Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier, and Max Holloway are permanent residents of every 'greatest fights' list.

The career arc required patience. Twice he fell in title fights — to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020 and Islam Makhachev's division-mates thereafter — and twice he rebuilt through the gauntlet, adding a second BMF title along the way. When the lightweight throne finally opened, the man who never took a backward step walked through the door.

At 37, every defense is a gift to the sport. Gaethje has promised he won't hold the belt quietly, which is the least surprising promise in MMA.