Justin Gaethje, given victory moments prior by the judges, stands with his paunchy, small-town American parents in the illuminated Octagon. He raises a gloved fist, stretching out tattooed pale skin, accepting the sold-out O2’s adoration.
The young guy in the seat next to mine (white sportswear, black eye) is applauding passionately, on the verge of bona fide tears.
Gaethje, widely considered the most exciting UFC fighter of all time, has earned the love of these humble sadists many times over. He did so again across the three five-minute rounds of the night’s co-main event. Rather, his opponent, Rafael Fiziev, a Shia blacksmith from Azerbaijan, did so on his behalf — exiting the cage with a face that might have been freshly slammed into a steering wheel.
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