Morning Report: Justin Gaethje reflects on loss to Max Holloway: 'He was so precise and so perfect that night'

Justin Gaethje has too many highlights to count.

UFC 300 didn't go as planned for the former BMF champion. The 35-year-old Gaethje entered the historic event as the first belt holder to successfully defend his title. Unfortunately for him, Max Holloway had other plans, providing the world with one of the greatest MMA moments they've ever seen.

Former featherweight champion Holloway started this bout as a pretty big underdog at +225 but finished at +125 to Gaethje's -185 according to Best Fight Odds. Once the bout began, it quickly became clear that the oddsmakers had the numbers wrong, as Holloway took control of the bout and never let up. Gaethje had nothing but praise for this “blessed” performance.

“My game plan wasn't necessarily the right one, but you can only see that in hindsight,” Gaethje said on Anik & Florian (via MMA Knockout). “I thought he fought a great fight. He was very precise and perfect that night. Max Holloway is very hard to beat.”

The 32-year-old Holloway dominated his lightweight challenger for the better part of the first four rounds, losing only the fourth in the judges' marks. In the fifth round, you know what happened: After another strong round, Holloway delivered his “highlight” shot with literally 10 seconds left to score a stunning knockout victory in the final seconds.

While Gaethje hasn't committed to a specific timeline for his return, he's had plenty of time to reflect on his fifth career loss (25-5) and what he wishes he'd done differently against Holloway.

“I think I was applying more pressure,” Gaethje said, “I was coming forward, trying to fight. I thought he was coming to me, but when he came, it was unexpected and quick, I didn't see it, I didn't find it.”

“If I'd been on the inside like I was in the fourth round, the only round I think I would have won for sure would have been like in the fourth round. I came forward. I tried to stomp on his feet. Yeah, I think I had to fight like that, at least from the second round onwards.”

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Gaethje feels like he's in a really strange spot after his loss, and it's unclear what “perfect” or most realistic it would be for him, but whoever it is, we'd all be happy to watch.

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