Justin Gaethje is the UFC interim lightweight champion.
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The legendary 38-year-old brawler, who is known for his devastating power, took Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett to school during a brutal bout that went to the judges' scorecard.
However, Gaethje won a different battle before the bell even rang. The veteran talent produced a memorable walkout. He stepped out onto the walkway to "Standing Outside The Fire" by Garth Brooks. The song was certainly a bold choice by Gaethje, but may have been a subliminal message to his opponent, indicating that he was willing to take some big risks throughout the bout.
Brooks has his own fearsome reputation online, with many speculating that he's a serial killer. So, what better way for a chaotic powerhouse such as Gaethje to try and get an edge over his opponent, while also winning over a new subset of fans?
Genius move.
And a move you could argue worked. Gaethje dominated Pimblett from the opening bell. And while he wasn't able to get the stoppage, in part due to Pimblett's iron chin and unbreakable spirit, he was the better fighter on the night.
Paddy Pimblett Was Humble After His Loss to Justin Gaethje
When speaking after his loss, which was the first of his UFC career, Pimblett cut a humble figure.
"I wanted to be walking away with that belt, and I know how tough I am anyway; I don't need to prove it to anyone," Pimblett said. "I wanted to leave with that belt, but there's no man I'd rather lose to than the 'Highlight', someone I grew up watching. It shows why he's a legend, right there."
Pimblett also noted that he agreed with the scorecard and that Gaethje was the better fighter on the night.
"I thought 48-47 was a fair scorecard. I'm not gonna lie, he hit me with a body shot in that first round, hit me right in the solar plexus, and it got me. I thought I was winning the round up until that point. I'm 31, you haven't seen the last of me."
Unfortunately, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter out of Liverpool, England, never mentioned Gaethje's walk-out song, or if that had an impact. We may need to wait for a podcast interview in the future to get the full tea on whether Gaethje won some sort of mind game before the bout.
