7 Crazy Facts About Justin Gaethje

7 Crazy Facts About Justin Gaethje

Justin Gaethje is one of the most exciting fighters in UFC history, known for his relentless aggression, devastating knockout power, and iron will. After his massive win at UFC 313, here are seven crazy facts about “The Highlight” that make him one of the most unique fighters in the sport.

1. He Has Never Gone Through a Full 5 Rounds

Despite being in multiple five-round fights, Justin Gaethje has never reached the final bell. He was in the fifth round twice: against Tony Ferguson, where the fight was stopped by the referee due to Ferguson’s inability to continue, and against Max Holloway at UFC 300, where he was knocked out at 4:59 of R5 in the last moment when Holloway pointed to the ground and Gaethje accepted the challenge to throw down

2. Gaethje Knocked Down / Out 9 of his last 10 opponents

The only exception? Khabib Nurmagomedov, who managed to avoid being floored. Notably, Gaethje has a special talent for landing uppercuts, scoring knockdowns with that strike against Rafael Fiziev, Michael Chandler, Donald Cerrone, and Charles Oliveira. His overhand right has also been deadly, dropping opponents like Cerrone, Oliveira, James Vick, Holloway, and Edson Barboza. And a high kick that knocked out Dustin Poirier in their rematch

3. He Holds a Post-Fight Bonus Record That May Never Be Broken

Gaethje has competed in 14 UFC fights and has earned 14 post-fight bonuses. He is the only fighter in UFC history to win a post-fight bonus in each of his first seven UFC appearances. This means that every time Gaethje steps into the Octagon, fans can expect a thrilling war.

4. He Used to Fight Nearly Blind

Before undergoing photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) eye surgery in 2016, Gaethje’s eyesight was so poor that he essentially fought blind. He had 20/60 vision in one eye and 20/100 in the other, with one being farsighted and the other nearsighted. Former UFC fighter Dan Hardy once stated that before his surgery, Gaethje had to physically make contact with his opponent just to see what he was hitting.

5. Despite a Wrestling Base, He Ignored Takedowns for Years

Gaethje was a Division I All-American wrestler, yet he didn’t secure his first UFC takedown until his 11th fight in the promotion. That came in the final seconds of his bout against Rafael Fiziev. Before that, he relied entirely on his striking and brawling style, even though he had elite wrestling credentials in his back pocket.

6. He Fought a One-Armed Fighter

Before joining the UFC, Gaethje fought Nick Newell, an inspirational MMA fighter who was born with only one fully developed arm. The two clashed in 2014 for the WSOF lightweight title, with Gaethje winning via TKO in the second round. Newell was an incredible fighter despite his disability, holding an impressive record, but Gaethje proved too much for him that night.

7. He visited Kadyrov in Chechnya in 2022

Gaethje, along with fellow UFC stars Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman, was once invited by the Kadyrov family in Chechnya. They were seen shooting guns and spending time with Ramzan Kadyrov’s sons. The event drew criticism, as Kadyrov is a widely condemned political figure accused of human rights abuses. Notably, this happened in the first year of Russian invasion in Ukraine, when Kadyrov’s forces took part in occupation of Ukraine as well.

Justin Gaethje’s career is full of wild moments, and his fearless approach to fighting makes him one of the most beloved action fighters in MMA history. With every fight, he adds another insane chapter to his legacy.

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