Could Justin Gaethje become a top 5 lw in the UFC?

[Sonny Qc]

27yrs old
16-0-0 (13 ko/tko, 1 sub 1 dec) Pretty impressive.

Look very good Vs Brian Foster last Saturday.
Foster (25-9) once beat Matt Brown.

Thought?

 

[Rampage_Jackson]

Not sure but he needs to be added to the roster ASAP so we can find out. Exciting and who is to say he couldn't be the best in the world at 155? Let's find out.

 

[dickcheney]

It's possible lw was basically ruled by the wec guys who everyone thought were second tier... Hard to say until it happens tho

 

[JohnyBrabo]

No. And I say that as a fan. He's a just bleeders wet dream but he blocks punches with his face. The Guillard fight showed me he has quite a ways to go actually, split decision victory and Melvin has looked awful lately.

 

[TCE]

No. And I say that as a fan. He's a just bleeders wet dream but he blocks punches with his face. The Guillard fight showed me he has quite a ways to go actually, split decision victory and Melvin has looked awful lately.

Anyone who actually watched that fight knows it wasn't a split decision. It was a clear UD.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

With a little more refinement, I think he could.

Dude is tough as hell, and a straight up killer.

 

[Fatal Catro]

Certainly possible, he comes from a solid gym and is still young enough to show marked improvement.

 

[Th3Sav4ge]

he should smack talk will brooks.

Get that melendez/Alverez feud goin.

 

[chitoortiz]

Awful striking defense.

Would get lit up against any top 15 UFC LW.

Stay in WSOF.

 

[JohnyBrabo]

Anyone who actually watched that fight knows it wasn't a split decision. It was a clear UD.

I don't disagree, but Gaethje looked human. Dude is tough as nails but he is just so damn raw and doesn't use his wrestling nearly enough. I just said I was a fan I just can't see him cutting it at the top without changes to his game or camp.

 

[JohnyBrabo]

With a little more refinement, I think he could.

Dude is tough as hell, and a straight up killer.

He has the potential but like you said refinement. Dude is raw as hell and tough as fuck but he gets clocked in every single fight he has. One day that chin will not hold up.

 

[vigneshm1995]

I'm pretty sure the top 5 UFC Lightweights know how to defend leg kicks lol

 

[Th3Sav4ge]

Awful striking defense.

Would get lit up against any top 15 UFC LW.

Stay in WSOF.

he has a good chin though and seems to have great cardio. With his wrestling pressure and strikes thats a problem for alot of guys. Just because someone is hittable, dosnt mean they cant take it, and dosnt mean they cant dish it out.

He also has to try and steam roll these guys in wsof to separate himself from the other non ufc high caliber fighters. So he could be putting himself in more danger than he should just to prove he can make a statement out of tough fighters like Palomino, and Foster.

 

[Terpizzle]

I don't really follow him.. but 13 ko's, 1 sub, 1 dec is only 15 wins.

 

[chitoortiz]

he has a good chin though and seems to have great cardio. With his wrestling pressure and strikes thats a problem for alot of guys. Just because someone is hittable, dosnt mean they cant take it, and dosnt mean they cant dish it out.

He also has to try and steam roll these guys in wsof to separate himself from the other non ufc high caliber fighters. So he could be putting himself in more danger than he should just to prove he can make a statement out of tough fighters like Palomino, and Foster.

You can do that against WSOF fighters and get away with it.

Top ranked UFC fighters are a different story.

 

[Th3Sav4ge]

You can do that against WSOF fighters and get away with it.

Top ranked UFC fighters are a different story.

who in the top 5 hits harder than Melvin? maybe this new Hulk mode RDA i guess....

 

[chitoortiz]

who in the top 5 hits harder than Melvin? maybe this new Hulk mode RDA i guess....

Going off my shady memory, I don't remember Melvin KO'ing anyone note worthy while in the UFC.

Maybe Siver and Dunham?

Either way, Gaethje's got himself a chin no doubt. But fighting the way he does, I don't think his chin will stand up to that punishment over time.

 

[MechMA]

Top 10 for sure.
Dont think he would be top 5 though

 

[JohnyBrabo]

who in the top 5 hits harder than Melvin? maybe this new Hulk mode RDA i guess....

You're a good poster and a smart fan so you should know it's not just about the power but also about the accuracy. Pinpoint shots can drop someone even with a granite chin. (Hendricks wonderboy comes to mind).

Gaethje vs Pettis for example would probably get ugly.

 

[essie]

As he stands now top 5 seems like a stretch, top 10 probably is more like it. He has a lot of the intangibles that can't really be trained so with some technique who knows. Lightweight is already a shark tank though.