So there you have it – Justin Gaethje is the first man to beat Nick Newell. It’s like Dave Walsh said in his prediction; it was only a matter of time until Newell found himself in the cage with someone who would just be too much for him to handle. There were even moments when it appeared that Gaethje was finding himself in an ethical pickle regarding how much he should commit to finishing Newell. He let him up multiple times, and appeared uneasy about finishing combos throughout the first round.
This fight got hard to watch real quick. It was another example of fighters having to be saved from themselves. Honestly, the fight probably should have been stopped when the ref checked the cut. Maybe Newell’s corner should have thrown in the towel between rounds. Newell’s heart has never been in question his whole life, but when it comes to this sport, heart is what keeps you in the fight and not what what wins you a fight more often than not. Whether you agree with the doctors letting the fight continue or not, this fight needed to be stopped.
Zprophet with the replay of the finish:
