10 reasons to watch the TUF 25 Finale, including the UFC debut of ex-WSOF champ Justin Gaethje

In Justin Gaethje’s mind, an MMA referee serves one purpose: to preserve life.

“The time for talking is over. That octagon door is going to lock and it’s going to be me, Michael (Johnson) and hopefully ‘Big John,’ (McCarthy),” Gaethje said after an open workout ahead of his UFC debut on Friday. “One of the referees, he’s there to save one of our lives.”

Gaethje, one of the most aggressive fighters in MMA, signed with the UFC as a free agent in May, relinquishing his WSOF lightweight title in the process. Gaethje brings with him a perfect 17-0 record with 15 finishes and meets Michael Johnson in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale.

For Johnson, a veteran of 16 UFC fights, the matchup provides an opportunity for him to put a 1-3 stretch behind him, something he seems anxious to do.

“I’m itching like Tyrone Biggums over here,” Johnson said following his open workout.

In the co-main event, Dhiego Lima and Jesse Taylor meet to determine the welterweight winner of Season 25 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

The TUF 25 Finale takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Here are 10 reasons to watch.

1. Let’s see what you’ve got

In May, Gaethje made the transition from highest ranked non-UFC lightweight in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, to No. 8 (now No. 7) ranked 155-pound fighter in the UFC. That adjustment took place when the former WSOF champion inked a free-agent deal with the UFC.

When he announced his signing on Twitter, Gaethje (17-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) requested a fight against “the scariest lightweight possible.” The UFC responded by matching him against No. 12 Johnson (17-11 MMA, 9-7 UFC) in a main-event fight.

Gaethje’s goal is obviously to become the UFC champ. By booking him against Johnson, someone who has fought some of the best in the division, the UFC, fans and Gaethje himself are all going to get a good idea of just how attainable that goal is.

The downside of this fight, if you can call it that, is if Gaethje adds a 16th stoppage to his record, the logjam at the top of the division means he’s likely going to have to battle at least once more before he gets a title shot.

2. That last step

Dhiego Lima

In “The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption” welterweight finale fight, Lima, who made it to the Season 19 final, faces Taylor, who was supposed to fight in the Season 7 final. Lima lost to Eddie Gordon by knockout. He then went 1-2 before being released by the promotion in July 2015. Taylor didn’t get the opportunity to fight in his season’s finale. Instead, his behavior outside the cage got him released from the show. Taylor did get one fight in the UFC, but lost to Season 7 runner-up C.B. Dollaway by first-round submission. He was released after that contest and fought for seemingly every other MMA promotion before getting the opportunity on Season 25 of “TUF.”

Lima’s (12-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC) accomplishment of getting back to the “TUF” final is impressive. But the fact is, he’s only 28 and three fights removed from his UFC career. Taylor (30-15 MMA, 0-1 UFC) is 34, and it’s been nine years and 36 fights since his only octagon appearance – so he gets the nod for stick-to-it-iveness.

3. Rare occurrence, but no complaints

It’s not often the UFC takes two young(ish) prospects and matches them up early in their UFC careers, especially in a crowded division. But that’s what’s happening with unbeaten lightweights Marc Diakiese and Drakkar Klose.

Diakiese is an exciting and flashy striker who excels at distance, something he displayed in his last outing, a “Performance of the Night” bonus-winning knockout of Teemu Packalen. Diakiese (12-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has decent takedowns and is good from the top position, but if he finds himself on his back, he struggles. Klose’s (7-0-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) wrestling base showed in his short-notice UFC debut, a decision win over Devin Powell. Klose closed distance well and was heavy against the cage. He also landed both takedown attempts, which could be the deciding factor here.

4. Really short notice

Jared Cannonier

Let’s hope Jared Cannonier didn’t spend too much time preparing for this event by watching tape of Steve Bosse, because Bosse is off the card. Cannonier now faces Nick Roehrick, who took the light heavyweight fight on three days’ notice.

Cannonier is coming off a decision loss to former title contender Glover Teixeira. Before that defeat, he had won two straight, claiming post-fight bonuses in each of those victories.

Roehrick (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) joins the UFC with a perfect 7-0 record, the same record Cannonier (9-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) had when he made his UFC debut. Roehrick undoubtedly hopes his promotional debut goes smoother than Cannonier’s, which ended in the first round when he was knocked out by Shawn Jordan.

5. Change the discussion

Brad Tavares

Brad Tavares has no problems defeating middle-of-the-pack UFC middleweights, but when he steps up in competition, he struggles. Over the past five years, Tavares has gone 7-3 with his losses coming to Yoel Romero, Tim Boetsch and Robert Whittaker. Tavares (14-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) gets a chance to change that narrative against rankings honorable mention Elias Theodorou (13-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), whose only defeat is a decision loss to Thiago Santos.

This bout looks like the most evenly matched fight on the card, and the winner could parlay his victory into a fight against a ranked opponent.

6. Looking for that first win

Angela Hill

Angela Hill has been successful outside the UFC, going unbeaten while winning and defending the Invicta strawweight title. Unfortunately, Hill has struggled in the UFC, compiling an 0-3 record over two stints with the promotion. Hill returned to the UFC in her most recent bout, a “Fight of the Night” decision loss to recent title contender Jessica Andrade. While Hill did lose that contest, she did what Andrade’s two previous strawweight opponents could not – go the distance.

Hill (6-3 MMA, 0-3 UFC), currently ranked No. 9 in the division, gets another chance at UFC victory against Ashley Yoder (5-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who enters the contest coming off a decision loss to Justine Kish.

Hill has displayed good outside striking ability. She’ll need those skills against Yoder, who has won four fights via submission.

7. It’s been a minute

Two longtime UFC fighters return from injuries on this card. Ed Herman, who has not fought since a July 2016 knockout loss to Nikita Krylov and C.B. Dollaway, whose most recent bout was a December 2015 knockout loss to Nate Marquardt meet in a light heavyweight contest.

Herman (23-12-1 MMA, 10-8-1 UFC) was out with an undisclosed injury, while Dollaway’s (15-8 MMA, 9-8 UFC) prolonged absence stemmed from an elevator mishap following the UFC 203 ceremonial weigh-in in September.

Before our rescue…& after @aliabdelaziz000 warned from the outside "be-careful in there Urijah"

A post shared by Urijah Faber (@urijahfaber) on Sep 9, 2016 at 8:48pm PDT

Both fighters are 3-4 over their past seven bouts. Herman has alternated wins and losses over that time, Dollaway is on a three-fight losing skid. This is a sensible matchup that neither fighter can afford to lose.

8. Important for different reasons

Jessica Eye

Undefeated Aspen Ladd makes her UFC debut against a very dangerous opponent. The 22-year-old Ladd, whose first pro fight took place in February 2015, meets 30-year-old Jessica Eye, who has not won since November 2014 when she defeated Leslie Smith via TKO.

When Eye joined the UFC, she was 10-1, she’s now 11-6 with one no-contest and has decision losses in her past four fights. Eye (11-6 MMA, 1-5 UFC) has fought some tough opponents during that run, but her back is against the wall against Ladd (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC). If Eye loses this bout, the odds of her being released are high.

As for Ladd, she’s never faced anyone with the name recognition or high-level experience of Eye. If she can get her sixth consecutive win, she’s likely to earn a shot at a top-15 bantamweight opponent.

9. Looking forward

Gray Maynard

Gray Maynard and Teruto Ishihara are both coming off frustrating unanimous decision defeats. Ishihara falling to Artem Lobov and Maynard losing to Ryan Hall.

Ishihara (9-3-2 MMA, 2-1-1 UFC), a potential star in the making, saw Lobov control the range during their fight, never allowing the young Japanese fighter to mount any sustained offense of his own. Maynard (12-6-1 MMA, 10-6-1 UFC), the UFC veteran, dealt with a competitor in Hall who fought to his strengths, using his Brazilian jiu-jitsu base to negate any offense Maynard hoped to bring to the contest.

Don’t be surprised if these featherweights look to put their recent disappointments behind them with a good old-fashioned donnybrook.

10. Looking for a boost

Tecia Torres

It’s rare that two top-15 fighters open a UFC event, but No. 7 Tecia Torres and No. 13 Juliana Lima do just that on this card. This matchup was not the original booking, but when USADA flagged Amanda Ribas for a potential anti-doping violation, Torres agreed to step in to face Lima.

Neither of these strawweights has had success against other ranked fighters. Torres’ (8-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) sole loss came to Rose Namajunas, while Lima (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has dropped decisions to former champion Carla Esparza and champion-to-be Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

One of these women will leave Las Vegas with a boost in confidence, knowing she belongs among the top-ranked strawweights.

For more on The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.