All fightersJustin Gaethje
“The Highlight”
Lightweight28-5RECORD
21KO / TKO WINS
1SUBMISSION WINS
6DECISION WINS
Profile
| Full name | Justin Ray Gaethje |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Highlight |
| Date of birth | 14 Nov 1988 |
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Safford, Arizona, U.S. |
| Lives in | Not added yet |
| Division | Lightweight |
| Team | Grudge Training Center (2011–2016), Genesis Training Center, Elevation Fight Team |
| Height | 180 cm (5′11″) |
| Reach | 178 cm (70″) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Weight | 70.3 kg (155 lb) |
| Status | Not added yet |
| Pro debut | 20 Aug 2011 |
| UFC debut | 7 Jul 2017 |
| Last fight | 14 Jun 2026 |
Details on this page were compiled from public information on 9 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile
Fight history
33 professional fights on file (16 in the UFC). Newest first.
| Result | Opponent | Method | Round | Time | Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Ilia Topuria | KO/TKO (corner stoppage) | 4 | 5:00 | UFC Freedom 250 | 14 Jun 2026 | Washington, DC, USA |
| Bout UFC Lightweight Title BoutReferee Marc GoddardScheduled 5 rounds | |||||||
| Win | Paddy Pimblett | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 5:00 | UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett | 24 Jan 2026 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Bout UFC Interim Lightweight Title BoutReferee Marc GoddardScheduled 5 roundsScorecards Mike Bell 48-47, Derek Cleary 49-46, Sal D'amato 49-46 | |||||||
| Win | Rafael Fiziev | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev | 8 Mar 2025 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee Jason HerzogScheduled 3 roundsScorecards Ben Cartlidge 29-28, Chris Lee 29-28, Ron McCarthy 29-28 | |||||||
| Loss | Max Holloway | KO/TKO (punch) | 5 | 4:59 | UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill | 13 Apr 2024 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee Marc GoddardScheduled 5 rounds | |||||||
| Win | Dustin Poirier | KO/TKO (kick) | 2 | 1:00 | UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 | 29 Jul 2023 | Salt Lake City, Utah, USA |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee Herb DeanScheduled 5 rounds | |||||||
| Win | Rafael Fiziev | Decision (majority) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 | 18 Mar 2023 | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee Marc GoddardScheduled 3 roundsScorecards Mark Collett 29-28, Clemens Werner 29-28, Paul Sutherland 28-28 | |||||||
| Loss | Charles Oliveira | Submission (rear naked choke) | 1 | 3:22 | UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje | 7 May 2022 | Phoenix, Arizona, USA |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee Marc GoddardScheduled 5 rounds | |||||||
| Win | Michael Chandler | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 | 6 Nov 2021 | New York City, New York, USA |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee Mike BeltranScheduled 3 roundsScorecards Sal D'amato 29-28, Derek Cleary 29-28, Doug Crosby 30-27 | |||||||
| Loss | Khabib Nurmagomedov | Submission (triangle choke) | 2 | 1:34 | UFC 254: Khabib vs. Gaethje | 24 Oct 2020 | Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Bout UFC Lightweight Title BoutReferee Jason HerzogScheduled 5 rounds | |||||||
| Win | Tony Ferguson | KO/TKO (punch) | 5 | 3:39 | UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje | 9 May 2020 | Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
| Bout UFC Interim Lightweight Title BoutReferee Herb DeanScheduled 5 rounds | |||||||
| Win | Donald Cerrone | KO/TKO (punch) | 1 | 4:18 | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje | 14 Sep 2019 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee Jerin ValelScheduled 5 rounds | |||||||
| Win | Edson Barboza | KO/TKO (punch) | 1 | 2:30 | UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Gaethje | 30 Mar 2019 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee Keith PetersonScheduled 5 rounds | |||||||
| Win | James Vick | KO/TKO (punch in clinch) | 1 | 1:27 | UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick | 25 Aug 2018 | Lincoln, Nebraska, USA |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee Kevin MacDonaldScheduled 5 rounds | |||||||
| Loss | Dustin Poirier | KO/TKO (punch in clinch) | 4 | 0:33 | UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Gaethje | 14 Apr 2018 | Glendale, Arizona, USA |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee Herb DeanScheduled 5 rounds | |||||||
| Loss | Eddie Alvarez | KO/TKO (knee in clinch) | 3 | 3:59 | UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo 2 | 2 Dec 2017 | Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee Herb DeanScheduled 3 rounds | |||||||
| Win | Michael Johnson | KO/TKO (knees in clinch) | 2 | 4:48 | The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale | 7 Jul 2017 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Bout Lightweight BoutReferee John McCarthyScheduled 5 rounds | |||||||
| Win | Luiz Firmino | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 3 | 5:00 | WSOF 34 | 31 Dec 2016 | New York City, New York, United States |
| Win | Brian Foster | TKO (leg kicks) | 1 | 1:43 | WSOF 29 | 12 Mar 2016 | Greeley, Colorado, United States |
| Win | Luis Palomino | TKO (punches) | 2 | 4:30 | WSOF 23 | 18 Sep 2015 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Win | Luis Palomino | TKO (leg kicks and punches) | 3 | 3:57 | WSOF 19 | 28 Mar 2015 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Win | Melvin Guillard | Decision (split) | 3 | 5:00 | WSOF 15 | 15 Nov 2014 | Tampa, Florida, United States |
| Win | Nick Newell | TKO (punches) | 2 | 3:09 | WSOF 11 | 5 Jul 2014 | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States |
| Win | Richard Patishnock | TKO (punches and elbows) | 1 | 1:09 | WSOF 8 | 18 Jan 2014 | Hollywood, Florida, United States |
| Win | Dan Lauzon | KO (punches) | 2 | 1:40 | WSOF 6 | 28 Oct 2013 | Coral Gables, Florida, United States |
| Win | Brian Cobb | TKO (leg kicks) | 3 | 2:19 | WSOF 3 | 14 Jun 2013 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Win | Gesias Cavalcante | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 1 | 2:27 | WSOF 2 | 23 Mar 2013 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |
| Win | Adrian Valdez | TKO (punches) | 2 | 0:19 | Rage in the Cage 164 | 16 Nov 2012 | Chandler, Arizona, United States |
| Win | Drew Fickett | KO (punch) | 1 | 0:12 | Rage in the Cage 163 | 20 Oct 2012 | Chandler, Arizona, United States |
| Win | Sam Young | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 1:58 | Rage in the Cage 162 | 29 Sep 2012 | Chandler, Arizona, United States |
| Win | Marcus Edwards | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Ring of Fire 43 | 2 Jun 2012 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States |
| Win | Donnie Bell | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:57 | Ring of Fire 42 | 17 Dec 2011 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States |
| Win | Joe Kelso | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:32 | Bring the Thunder MMA 2 | 1 Oct 2011 | Pueblo, Colorado, United States |
| Win | Kevin Croom | KO (slam) | 1 | 1:01 | Ring of Fire 41 | 20 Aug 2011 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States |