Nick Newell, who lost to Justin Gaethje by TKO in a 2014 WSOF title fight, has reflected on what sets Gaethje apart from other fighters. Newell said the only way to stop Gaethje is to knock him completely unconscious, noting that despite clearly hearing Gaethje breathing heavily during their bout, his output, power, and pressure never diminished. Newell identified only two fighters with that quality: Gaethje and Dricus Du Plessis.
Nick Newell has opened up about what made his 2014 WSOF title-fight loss to Justin Gaethje unlike anything else he has experienced in combat sports, singling out a physical quality in Gaethje that he believes only one other active fighter shares.
Newell, now 40 and carrying a professional record of 14-2, described a telling moment during the bout: he could clearly hear Gaethje breathing hard, a signal that most opponents begin to slow. It never happened. Despite the audible fatigue, Gaethje's output, punching power, and forward pressure held firm from start to finish. Newell's conclusion was stark — the only way to stop Gaethje is to render him completely unconscious, because nothing short of that appears to register.
Justin Gaethje, the current Lightweight champion at 37 years old, has a record of 28-5 and numbers that back up Newell's account. He lands 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy, combining volume with precision in a way few fighters in any division can match. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach, Gaethje has built his entire identity around relentless forward pressure and the willingness to absorb punishment while continuing to deliver it.
Newell named only one other fighter he believes possesses that same inextinguishable quality: Dricus Du Plessis. The South African middleweight, ranked second in his division and seventh pound-for-pound at age 32, holds a 23-3 record and produces 5.18 significant strikes per minute while also averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. Du Plessis carries the nickname "Stillknocks" — an identity built on the same premise Newell is describing.
Why it matters
- Newell's firsthand account adds rare insider context to what makes Gaethje so difficult to finish
- The comparison to Du Plessis frames a quality that crosses weight classes and could shape how future opponents gameplan for both men
- For Gaethje, the observation underscores why his championship reign remains built on a foundation of attrition and durability rather than evasion
