JUSTIN GAETHJE was subject to more title pain when Charles Oliveira, former lightweight king, choked him in front of his friends.
Gaethje, a fan favourite, fought the former champion in the main event at UFC 274.
Before his second attempt at the undisputed UFC gold, The Highlight was full of confidence. His first came against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
However, Oliveira, the former champ, who had lost the belt the day before, denied Gaethje a fairytale tale in Arizona with a horrible first round submission victory.
Oliveira was elated after registering his 11th win in a row and said, "Hey, Hey.
"Something is missing. Charles Oliveira, Bronx's champion, has given the champion a name.
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Oliveira, a submission specialist and slick striker, was immediately fired up and took the centre stage of the octagon.
He tried a Gaethje-style low kick, but he responded with a stunning right hand that wobbled the interim lightweight champion.
As Gaethje had done so many times in the past, he cleared himself and returned to fire.
Oliveira was ejected by a textbook uppercut, but Gaethje opted not to follow the Brazilian jiujitsu whizz to ground.
Oliveira was again floored by a left hook a few seconds later, but his fall to the ground was delayed.
His blonde, bleached hair was quickly covered in blood by the Brazilian, but it didn't bother him.
Gaethje, 33 years old, was briefly caught in a tense moment when Oliveira pulled guard, but he eventually got back on his feet.
Oliveira began to press Gaethje, just like he did against Dustin Poirier.
This pressure created a massive overhand right that sat Gaethje to his knees.
Oliveira saw that Highlight was seriously hurt and tried to fix it by looking at a triangle choke, the same one Nurmagomedov submitted Gaethje almost two years ago.
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Gaethje, who was badly dazed, managed to defend the submission attempt, but he gave up during the transition.
Oliveira, a ruthless and imperious fighter, didn't waste this golden chance. He sank in a painful rear-naked choke to end Gaethje’s hopes of winning UFC Gold.
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