The bad blood between Michael Johnson and Justin Gaethje was piping hot in the lead up to their showdown on Friday night.

From fireworks at the UFC's Summer Kickoff media spot to having to be separated on multiple occasions in the build to their scrap, the Henri Hooft-trained fighter and the former WSOF champion simply couldn't wait to let their hands fly in Las Vegas.

With Johnson coming off a loss in his most recent outing against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 205 last November he needed a win in a big way to keep his contender hopes alive. The undefeated Gaethje brought a serious amount of momentum into the tilt, but without having a marquee name on his resume, the overall respect to become a certified title contender was absent.

Therefore the main event at The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale made for a pivotal tilt for both men, and it was Gaethje who endured the brawl.

Both men came out throwing smoke and landed at a regular clip in a fast-pace, action-packed tilt that lived up to every bit of hype thrown down. Johnson's speed ate up Gaethje in the early goings as he stunned and wobbled the former newcomer at several turns. That said, Gaethje continued to press forward in his signature fashion and turned the tide with a knee to the body that put Johnson on his heels.

Johnson attempted to survive the round in survival mode, but Gaethje had enough left in the tank to unload a combination that forced the referee to step in and stop the fight in the closing seconds of the frame.

With the win, Gaethje keeps his undefeated record intact and silences the critics who said he couldn't hang with UFC elite inside the Octagon.