Lightweight

Justin

"The Highlight"

Gaethje

W KO
Gaethje
VS
OPPONENT
Ilia Topuria
KO/TKO - to Corner Stoppage
14 Haziran 2026
W UD
Gaethje
VS
OPPONENT
Paddy Pimblett
U-DEC
January 24, 2026
W UD
Gaethje
VS
OPPONENT
Rafael Fiziev
U-DEC
March 08, 2025
L KO
Gaethje
VS
OPPONENT
Max Holloway
KO/TKO Punch
April 13, 2024
W KO
Gaethje
VS
OPPONENT
Dustin Poirier
KO/TKO Kick
July 29, 2023
28
WINS
5
LOSSES
0
DRAWS
AGE
37
HEIGHT
180 cm
WEIGHT
70.3 kg
REACH
178 cm
LEG REACH
40 cm
COUNTRY
United States

UFC HISTORY & CAREER

• UFC 324(1/24/26) Gaethje won a five round unanimous decision over Paddy Pimblett to win the interim UFC lightweight title
• UFC 313(3/8/25) Gaethje won a three round unanimous decision over Rafael Fiziev
• 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

IMPORTANT FACTS

Pro since 2011
20 wins by KO, one by submission (RNC)
Nine first round finishes
Has won nine of his last 12 and four of his last five
Two time Interim UFC Lightweight Champion, won the title in May 2020 and January 2026
Former BMF Champion, won the title in July 2023
Has earned fight night bonuses in five-straight fights
Has also defeated PRIDE vet Luiz Firmino and Strikeforce vet JZ Cavalcante

Q & A

Q: When and why did you start training for fighting?
ANSWER: 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.
Q: Training
ANSWER: Every day I get to hit pads and work on my striking with Trevor Wittman. Three days a week I do strength and conditioning and I’m wrestling every other day.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 parentsWhat 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 ServicesWhat 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 tournamentFavorite grappling technique:Blast double legFavorite Striking technique:Uppercut

STRIKING ANALYSIS

STRIKING ACCURACY58.0
STRIKING DEFENSE51.0
LANDED/MIN
6.48
STRIKES PER MINUTE
ABSORBED/MIN
7.05
STRIKES ABSORBED PER MINUTE

GRAPPLING & WRESTLING

TAKEDOWN ACCURACY40.0
TAKEDOWN DEFENSE74.0
TAKEDOWNS/FIGHT
0.33
15 MIN AVERAGE
SUBMISSIONS/FIGHT
0.0
15 MIN AVERAGE

GENERAL ANALYSIS

UFC RECORD
11 W - 5 L
ACTIVE STREAK
+3 Wins
WIN BREAKDOWN
Knockout (KO)7
Submission0
Decision4
LOSS BREAKDOWN
Knockout (KO)3
Submission2
Decision0
FIGHTING STYLE MMA
STANCE Orthodox
UFC DEBUT Jul. 8, 2017