The 10 greatest UFC fights of the last decade (2010-2019)

2017: Justin Gaethje vs Michael Johnson – Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale

Justin Gaethje produced a classic in his UFC debut against Michael Johnson.

Former WSOF and PFL champion Justin Gaethje signed with the UFC in 2017, and brought with him a reputation for putting on incredibly exciting fights. Matched with Michael Johnson in his promotional debut, ‘The Highlight’ didn’t disappoint, putting on the best fight of 2017 in an unforgettable brawl.

Gaethje was happy to exchange with Johnson from the off, pressuring ‘The Menace’ back with his punches, combinations and leg kicks, but Johnson remained dangerous and landed shots of his own – only for ‘The Highlight’ to tell him to bring it on. Johnson obliged, and as the first round drew to a close, he was able to hurt Gaethje, buckling him with a big right hand and a follow-up combination as the former WSOF champion hung on.

He came out smiling in the second round though, and despite Johnson putting him on rubber legs again, Gaethje simply wouldn’t stop coming forward. Eventually, despite landing clean shots throughout, ‘The Menace’ began to wilt under the pressure. Gaethje continued to pour his offense forward, and used a couple of heavy uppercuts to stun Johnson, and from there, he hit him with everything in his arsenal until the veteran collapsed.

Gaethje has since gone on to put on more exciting fights in the Octagon, but this one remains probably his best to date – even above his wild fights with Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez – and it was almost certainly the best of 2017.