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#3 Lightweight Division

Active

"The Highlight"

Justin Gaethje

Lightweight Division

26-5-0 (W-L-D)

20

Wins by Knockout

9

First Round Finishes

Justin Gaethje

athlete record

Info

Learn more about Justin Gaethje's UFC history, fighter facts, and Q&A below.

Status
Active
Place of Birth
Tucson, United States
Trains at
Genesis Training Center
Fighting style
MMA
Age
35
Height
71.00
Weight
156.00
Octagon Debut
Jul. 8, 2017
Reach
70.00
Leg reach
40.00
  • Pro since 2011

     
  • 20 wins by KO, one by submission (RNC)

     
  • Nine first round finishes

     
  • Has won seven of his last 10

     
  • Owns wins over UFC vets Drew Fickett, Dan Lauzon, Melvin Guillard, Brian Foster and Brian Cobb

     
  • Has also defeated PRIDE vet Luiz Firmino and Strikeforce vet JZ Cavalcante

UFC 300 (4/13/24) Gaethje was knocked out by Max Holloway at 4:59 of the fifth round, losing the BMF title 

UFC 291 (7/29/23) Gaethje knocked out Dustin Poirier at 1:00 of the second round to win the BMF title

UFC 286 (3/18/23) Gaethje won a three round majority decision over Rafael Fiziev 

UFC 274 (5/7/22) Gaethje was submitted by Charles Oliveira at 3:22 of the first round in a bout for the vacant UFC lightweight title

UFC 268 (11/6/21) Gaethje won a three-round unanimous decision over Michael Chandler

UFC 254 (10/24/20) Gaethje was submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov via triangle choke at 1:34 of the second round in a fight for the UFC lightweight title

UFC 249 (5/9/20) Gaethje stopped Tony Ferguson via strikes at 3:39 of the fifth round to win the interim UFC lightweight title

UFC Fight Night (9/14/19) Gaethje stopped Donald Cerrone via strikes at 4:18 of the first round

UFC on ESPN (3/30/19) Gaethje knocked out Edson Barboza at 2:30 of the first round

UFC Fight Night (8/25/18) Gaethje knocked out James Vick at 1:27 of the first round

UFC on FOX (4/14/18) Gaethje was stopped by Dustin Poirier via strikes at :33 of the fourth round

UFC 218 (12/2/17) Gaethje was knocked out by Eddie Alvarez at 3:59 of the third round

TUF 25 Finale (7/7/17) Gaethje stopped Michael Johnson via strikes at 4:48 of the second round

When and why did you start training for fighting? I grew up wrestling and fighting was never something I ever dreamed about doing. I was never in a streetfight, and then I started fighting amateur fights in college and won seven in a row and after college I turned pro and I haven’t lost one. I just wanted to be the best at whatever I was doing, and that’s put me in this great position that I’m in right now.



What ranks and titles have you held? Former interim UFC lightweight champion, World Series of Fighting lightweight champion (five successful title defenses)



Do you have any heroes? My parents



What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It’s definitely something special to me, but the way that I’m approaching this is that this fight is no different than the very first fight I ever had.



Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? University of Northern Colorado. I am an internship away from completing my Bachelors degree in Human Services



What was your job before you started fighting? I was a student and then I would take random jobs. I worked in demolition, I did painting, I was a bouncer at a billiards club, so anything to be able to keep training and to follow my goal.



Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? 7-0 MMA record, 2010 Division I All-American, finished seventh in NCAA tournament



Favorite grappling technique: Blast double leg



Favorite Striking technique: Uppercut