I must admit I never followed Gaethje during his time in the lesser leagues, and I got to know the guy in the two fights he actually lost.
Win or lose, you can't help but admire him. His style is super fan-friendly. That said, it doesn't seem to work in the upper echelon. You just can't absorb countless shots from top-tier lightweights and hope not to end up in a wheelchair in another year. So I really feel bad for Gaethje. His total disregard for his own health will cost him dearly in the long run. Look at what happened to Junior dos Santos after Sea Level Cain fights.
And it's not really like Justin is a one-trick pony with banging and blocking shots with his forehead being his only choice. He has Division I wrestling for Christ's sake and never puts it to use. This is ridiculous. Of all lightweights, he may very well be the least stylistically convenient matchup for Nurmagomedov, but getting beat up in each and every appearance won't get him there.
I really like his penchant for being entertaining. It's a valuable asset amid woodleys and other super-boring fighters plaguing the today's sport of MMA. But I would really prefer seeing him fight smarter fights. A couple of takedowns wouldn't take the fun away but could really make the difference as to the outcome. It would certainly extend his life expectancy as a fighter beyond the five fights he mentioned.
