Nicknamed "the Highlight," five of Gaethje's bouts—againstMichael Johnson,Eddie Alvarez,Dustin Poirier,Michael Chandler, andMax Holloway—have been named Fight of the Year by multiple media outlets. He has earned15 post-fight bonus awards in 15 UFC appearances, the highest bonuses-per-fight rate in UFC history, and is tied withEdson Barboza and Dustin Poirier for the most Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC history, with 10. At 37 years old, he became the oldest fighter to win a UFC lightweight title.Fight Matrix currently ranks him as the ninth-greatest lightweight fighter of all time.[10]
Justin Ray Gaethje was born on November 14, 1988 and raised in Safford, Arizona. His mother, Carolina (née Espinoza), is ofMexican descent fromSonora, Mexico[11] and his father, John Ray Gaethje, is ofGerman descent.[12][13] His mother was a postmaster while his father was acopper miner, as were both of his grandfathers. His paternal grandfatherboxed while serving in theUnited States Army.[13][14] Gaethje's father Ray retired as a copper miner in September 2019, after 36 years working at theMorenci mine.[15]
Gaethje has two sisters.[16] He also has atwin brother who worked at theMorenci mine for almost ten years.[15] When he was 18, Gaethje spent a summer himself at the Morenci mine. He said to Brett Okamoto ofESPN in 2020, "I worked 7 days a week, 12 hours every day. I did it for 3 months straight and took one sick day, because I had to sleep. I did 96 hours one week."[15] Gaethje recalled that as he was about to leave the mine to go to college, two of his co-workers told him, "You'll be right back, you ain't gonna make it in college. You'll be right back here." This motivated Gaethje to make a success of himself.[15]
Gaethje beganwrestling at the age of four.[17] He attendedSafford High School,[18] where he was a four-time finalist and two-time state champion (AIA).[19] He still holds the seventh-mostnear falls (218) and the ninth-most team points scored (1057.5) in the history of the state as a wrestler.[20][21] Gaethje also playedfootball andbaseball in high school.[22]
Gaethje graduated from Safford High School with a 191–9 record.[23] He initially applied to a small college in Arizona as he wanted to stay close to his family, but instead accepted an offer from theNCAA Division I program at theUniversity of Northern Colorado.[15] As a freshman, Gaethje had an 18–9 record, including a third-place finish at the Oregon Wrestling Classic, winning the NCAA Western Regional Championships, and earning Western Wrestling All-Conference First Team honors.[24] In his sophomore season, he qualified for the 2009 NCAA Division I 157 lbChampionship, where he posted a 0–2 record. He finished the season with a 14–4 record and was again named to the Western Wrestling All-Conference First Team.[23]
As a junior, Gaethje went 5–2 at the 2010 NCAA Division I 157 lb Championship to earn 7th place andAll-American status. This made him the first Northern Colorado wrestler to attain Division I All-American status since Larry Wagner in 1970.[25][26][27] Gaethje dropped down to the 149 lb division for his senior year, but had struggles with weight cutting.[28][17] He won true-second at the NCAA Western Regional Championships[29] and so qualified for the 2011 NCAA Division I 149 lb Championship,[30] where he posted a 1–2 record to end his senior season with a 17–8 record.[23]
In June 2020, it was announced that Gaethje would be inducted into the University of Northern Colorado Athletics Hall of Fame for his achievements in wrestling.[31]
Gaethje first came into contact withmixed martial arts (MMA) as afreshman at theUniversity of Northern Colorado, when he wrestledUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters such asGeorges St-Pierre,Clay Guida and future opponentDonald Cerrone. Afterward, he talked to his coaches about his intentions on trying out the new sport, to which he was told that he had to get his grades up in order to get an amateur bout.[32] After improving his grades, Gaethje made his amateur debut during the pre-season of hissophomore year (08'-09') on August 2, 2008, where he scored aslam knockout on his opponent.[33]
After amassing a 7–0 amateur record, Gaethje made his professional debut on August 20, 2011, against future UFC fighterKevin Croom. Gaethje won the fight in the first round via KO due to a slam after Croom attempted a submission.[34] On the regional circuit in Colorado and Arizona, Gaethje compiled an undefeated 7–0 professional record, with 6 stoppage wins.[12] One of his early victories was over UFC veteranDrew Fickett. Gaethje won by knockout 12 seconds into the first round.[35]
Gaethje was signed by theWorld Series of Fighting on December 2, 2012,[36] and made his debut on March 23, 2013, atWSOF 2 againstGesias Cavalcante, finishing the fight in the first round through TKO (doctor stoppage) after opening a cut above Cavalcante's left eye.[37]
On June 14, 2013, he fought Brian Cobb atWSOF 3, eventually winning via TKO from leg kicks in the third round.[38]
Afterward, Gaethje foughtDan Lauzon atWSOF 6 on October 26, 2013, finishing Lauzon by knockout with a right uppercut in the second round.[39]
The three stoppage victories secured Gaethje a shot at the inauguralWSOF Lightweight Championship, in the headline bout ofWSOF 8 against Richard Patishnock on January 18, 2014. Gaethje dispatched Patishnock in the first round via TKO to become the first WSOF Lightweight Champion.[40]
His first title defense was atWSOF 11 againstNick Newell on July 5, 2014.[41] Gaethje won the fight with a right hook TKO in the second round.[42]
On November 15, 2014, Gaethje facedUFC veteran and former training partnerMelvin Guillard atWSOF 15.[43] The fight was ruled a non-title contest after Guillard missed weight. He scaled at 158.8 lbs, nearly 4 lbs over the 155 lb limit, and 50% of his purse went to Gaethje.[44] Gaethje won the bout via split decision.[45]
He then went on to fightLuis Palomino atWSOF 19 on March 28, 2015. Gaethje defended his title by stopping Palomino via TKO in the third round after a combination of leg kicks and punches.[46] TheLos Angeles Times named this fight as the best fight of 2015.[47]
Gaethje had a rematch against Palomino on September 18, 2015, atWSOF 23 and defended his belt again, finishing Palomino in the second round by TKO.[48]
AtWSOF 29 on March 12, 2016, he defended his belt againstBrian Foster via TKO due to leg kicks at 1:43 of the first round.[49][50][51] Three days later, Gaethje was suspended indefinitely by the Colorado State Athletic Commission for "unsportsmanlike conduct" after he performed his signature celebration, a backflip off the top of the cage, in the aftermath of his victory at WSOF 29.[52] The suspension was lifted a day later.[53][54]
Gaethje was expected to defend the WSOF Lightweight Championship against Ozzy Dugulubgov atWSOF 33 on October 7, 2016.[55] However, the bout was cancelled on the day of the event as Dugulubgov was stricken with illness.[56]
On October 17, 2016, it was announced that Gaethje would defend theWSOF Lightweight Championship against João Zeferino on December 31, 2016, atWSOF 34 in the main event.[57] However, an injury forced Zeferino to withdraw from the bout and he was replaced byLuiz Firmino.[58] Gaethje won the bout by TKO via doctor stoppage due to Firmino's right eye being swollen after round three.[59]
On July 13, 2017, the UFC announced that Gaethje would coachThe Ultimate Fighter 26 along withEddie Alvarez, with the duo expected to face each other at the conclusion of the season.[66] The bout with Alvarez took place on December 2, 2017, atUFC 218.[67] Gaethje lost the competitive fight by KO in the third round, the first loss of his MMA career.[68] The fight also earned him his second consecutive Fight of the Night bonus award.[69] At theWorld MMA Awards, it was named the fight of the year.[70] Gaethje said after the loss, "It was the time of my life. Honestly, being in front of that many people, being able to put my skills on the line at the highest level on a pay-per-view, all of those things, it was a dream come true for me. I said it before, I said it many times, that I was going to lose (eventually). If I lost, I hoped that I would get knocked out. All of those things came true."[16]
Gaethje lost a back-and-forth fight via TKO in the fourth round toDustin Poirier on April 14, 2018, atUFC on Fox 29.[71] The fight earned Gaethje his third consecutive Fight of the Night bonus award.[72] Sherdog named Gaethje vs. Poirier as the best fight of 2018.[73] It was revealed after the fight that Gaethje's leg kicks had caused a partial tear of Poirier'squadriceps femoris muscle. Poirier said, "I didn't know it in the fight, but I knew it the night of and the next morning. He tore my quad. I'm trying to think of another time I've been seriously damaged with kicks.Jim Miller hurt my calf really good, but nothing like that."[74]
Gaethje was scheduled to fightAl Iaquinta on August 25, 2018, atUFC Fight Night 135.[75] However, on June 28, 2018, Iaquinta withdrew from the bout and he was replaced byJames Vick.[76] Gaethje rebounded from his two losses in emphatic fashion, winning the fight by knockout in the first round.[77] He was also awarded a Performance of Night award, which meant he had earned five bonus awards in his four fights in UFC.[78]
Gaethje next facedDonald Cerrone on September 14, 2019, in the main event atUFC on ESPN+ 16.[82] He won the fight via TKO in the first round.[83] The win also earned Gaethje his third Performance of the Night bonus award.[84]
UFC interim Lightweight Champion and further title contention
On April 6, it was announced that Gaethje would step in on short notice to faceTony Ferguson for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship on April 18, atUFC 249.[85] However, on April 9, UFC presidentDana White announced that this event had been postponed,[86] and the bout instead took place for May 9, 2020.[87] Gaethje dominated the fight, stopping Ferguson via TKO in the fifth round, and thus ending Ferguson's personal best of 12 consecutive wins.[88][89] He also continued his bonus award streak, earning theFight of the Night andPerformance of the Night awards.[90] This made Gaethje the only fighter in UFC history to win at least one fight night bonus in each of his first seven appearances.[91]
Gaethje facedCharles Oliveira on May 7, 2022, atUFC 274 for the vacantUFC Lightweight Championship.[108] Due to Oliveira missing weight and having been stripped of the title, only Gaethje was eligible to win the title.[109] Despite knocking down Oliveira twice, Gaethje lost the fight via rear–naked choke submission in round one.[110]
Gaethje took onDustin Poirier in a rematch of their 2018 bout, for the symbolic "BMF" ("baddest motherfucker") belt on July 29, 2023, atUFC 291.[114] He won the fight via head kick knockout in round two.[115] The win earned Gaethje his fifthPerformance of the Night bonus award.[116]
Gaethje facedMax Holloway on April 13, 2024, atUFC 300.[117] He lost the BMF championship by knockout in the last second of round five.[118] Gaethje took home a $300,000 fight of the night bonus.[119]
Gaethje was scheduled to faceDan Hooker on March 8, 2025 atUFC 313.[120] However, Hooker had to withdraw from the bout due to a hand injury and was replaced byRafael Fiziev in a rematch.[121][122] Gaethje defeated Fiziev via unanimous decision.[123] This fight earned him anotherFight of the Night award.[124]
As a two-timeArizona State high school champion and anNCAA Division IAll-American, Gaethje has some of the bestwrestling credentials in the UFC's lightweight division. Despite his elite wrestling pedigree, he rarely looks fortakedowns, instead preferring an entertaining stand-up fighting style.[128] He is well known for the knockout power in his punches, and his debilitatingleg kicks.[74] When asked after his loss to Poirier in 2018 why he did not use his wrestling in the bout, Gaethje said, "I’ve been wrestling my whole life. I should’ve and could’ve took him down a couple of times, especially when I had him rocked just to steal a round or two. For some reason, my mind will not let me do it. I think I sold myself so hard on the fact that this is not wrestling. It gets you tired. If I’m going to get tired, I’d rather it be from fighting and not from wrestling. That’s the reason why I never wanted to wrestle. But I did so much cardio this camp that it would not have been a problem for me to turn it into a wrestling match, but I just can’t do it, it would not be fun for me."[128]
In a 2020ESPN interview, Gaethje stated he realized after transitioning from wrestling to mixed martial arts that, while winning was still important, entertaining the fans could earn him more money. He said, "There can be guys out there who are 13–0 with 13 decisions, and they're not [even] getting paid $5,000 to fight because nobody is watching. I've gotten opportunities on the biggest stages because of the way I fight. I've never not wanted to win a belt, but I wanted to make money, and the surest way to make money in this sport was to be exciting." According to Gaethje's coachTrevor Wittman, the back-to-back losses against Alvarez and Poirier caused Gaethje to change his mentality. Although he is still apressure fighter, Wittman said that Gaethje now takes fewer risks and is more selective about when to trade punches. Wittman stated, "I asked him after those two losses, 'Is your purpose still to be the most exciting fighter in the world?' And he said, 'Not really, Coach. I want to be a UFC champion.'"
Gaethje underwent aphotorefractive keratectomy in 2016 to correct his eyesight. He said, "I used to be blind. I had horrible vision. I was 20/60 in one eye and 20/200 in another eye. And I was far sighted in one eye and nearsighted in another eye."[130]Dan Hardy stated onInside the Octagon that before the surgery Gaethje's "eyesight was so bad that he actually had to physically be in contact with his opponent to know what he was hitting."[131]
Gaethje—along with UFC PresidentDana White, fightersColby Covington andHenry Cejudo, and managerAli Abdelaziz—attended a rally for PresidentDonald Trump in September 2020, with the fighters being acknowledged by the President.[132] Gaethje praised Trump for his role in the UFC's early development, saying "He’s a reason that the UFC is here."[133]
For the vacantUFC Lightweight Championship. Oliveira missed weight (155.5 lb) and was stripped of the title. Only Gaethje was eligible to win the title.
