Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje have combined for 11 post-fight bonuses over their last nine fights. That’s not a typo. They have more bonuses than fights over that span. Now, at UFC on ESPN+ 16, these two entertaining lightweights will attempt to live up to the hype. This showdown is as important to the top of the division as any non-title fight in recent history. Its importance can only be topped by its potential for unforgettable action.
After suffering his first two professional losses in back-to-back outings against Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje has bounced back with a pair of first-round knockouts over James Vick and Edson Barboza. Cerrone was on a three-fight winning streak and looking better than ever after returning to the 155-pound weight class until dropping a “Fight of the Night” affair to Tony Ferguson at UFC 238. Cerrone will try to replicate the success he had the last time he fought in Canada when he soundly defeated Al Iaquinta en route to a unanimous decision in Ottawa.