Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler produced one of the best fights in UFC history. Both men started the main card of UFC 268 and went through an absolute war. Right from the start of the contest, both fighters went after each other, landing brutal strikes and even leaving the other guy wobbly.

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The crowd was on the edge of the seats throughout the fight. After three brutal rounds, where both men were in danger of getting finished, Gaethje came out on top.

He won the fight via a unanimous decision. During the post-fight interview, he said, “I knew exactly what that motherf**ker was. He is a warrior. We’re living in the wrong times, let me tell you. Me and him should’ve been fighting to death in a colosseum. That’s what should’ve happened.”

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“No man, I know at this level with what was on the line tonight. I had to put him to sleep. Same for him. We’re fighting to fight for that belt. The winner of December, I will be f**king stepping in there and I will be pushing you everywhere. Hopefully, it’s Oliveira in Brazil or Poirier down in Louisiana. I don’t give a f**k,” he added.

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Gaethje, who believes he deserves the title shot next, said, “I’m ranked number 2, I just got an impressive win, of course, who else? DC ain’t out here, so I’m the only motherf**ker left.”

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Who fights for the UFC lightweight title next?

According to most of the MMA community, the winner of Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler was going to be the rightful number 1 contender. As Gaethje came out on top in the fight, he might face the winner of the UFC 269 title fight.

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However, there is one name that keeps popping up for the number 1 contender spot. Islam Makhachev, who recently defeated Dan Hooker, is on a nine-fight win streak. Makhachev and his long-time training partner also believe so. However, ‘The Highlight’, who was having none of it, threatened to riot if he didn’t get the shot.

‘The Highlight’ is the number 2 ranked lightweight in the UFC. And after a performance like that against Chandler, there will be very few doubters regarding his status as the top dog.

What did you think of the fight? Should Gaethje fight for the title next? Or should he fight Makhachev next? Let us know in the comments!

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Arunaditya Aima

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Arunaditya Aima is an editor at EssentiallySports, where he works to bring clarity and depth to sports storytelling through the pieces he edits. With a Master’s degree in Sports Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in the field, he combines newsroom discipline with a deep-rooted passion for sports. During his time at EssentiallySports, Arunaditya has taken on multiple roles across the editorial pipeline. He began as a writer covering Ultimate Fighting Championship before transitioning into editorial responsibilities, including serving as the primary editor for National Basketball Association coverage. His experience across writing and editing allows him to approach stories from both a narrative and structural perspective. Before his editorial work in digital sports media, Arunaditya worked as a producer at Firstpost under the Network18 Group umbrella, gaining experience in newsroom production and broadcast-oriented storytelling. Across roles, he focuses on refining sports coverage through strong editorial judgment, attention to detail, and a commitment to presenting the game in ways that resonate with readers.

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