{"title":"Justin Gaethje","name":"Justin Gaethje","sport":"mma","image":"https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/UFC_Freedom_250%2C_the_mixed_martial_arts_event_produced_by_the_Ultimate_Fighting_Championship%2C_Sunday%2C_June_14%2C_2026%2C_in_the_Grand_Foyer_of_the_White_House_-_67%28cropped%29.jpg/960px-thumbnail.jpg","description":"American mixed martial artist (born 1988)","qid":"Q15634226","pv":185743,"nickname":"The Highlight","born":"1988-11-14","died":null,"birthplace":"Safford, Arizona, U.S.","iso":"US","country":"ABD","height":180,"reach":178,"stance":"Orthodox","division":"lightweight","divisions":["Lightweight"],"team":"Grudge Training Center","org":"UFC","grap":{"pts":3,"tags":["comp:wrestling","wrestling"]},"legend":true,"champ":true,"record":{"wins":28,"losses":5,"draws":0,"nc":0,"ko":21,"sub":1,"dec":6,"total":33,"lossesByKo":3,"lossesBySub":2,"lossesByDec":0,"streak":{"type":"W","n":3},"bestStreak":18,"firstFight":"2011-08-20","lastFight":"2026-06-14","firstLossTo":"Eddie Alvarez","titleFights":12,"titlesWon":10},"otherRecord":null,"fights":[{"result":"W","record":"28–5","opponent":"Ilia Topuria","method":"TKO (corner stoppage)","kind":"KO","round":"4","time":"5:00","date":"2026-06-14","event":"UFC Freedom 250","location":"Washington, D.C., United States","notes":"Won and unified the UFC Lightweight Championship. Performance of the Night. Fight of the Night.","opponentSlug":"ilia-topuria"},{"result":"W","record":"27–5","opponent":"Paddy Pimblett","method":"Decision (unanimous)","kind":"DEC","round":"5","time":"5:00","date":"2026-01-24","event":"UFC 324","location":"Las Vegas, Nevada, United States","notes":"Won the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. Fight of the Night.","opponentSlug":"paddy-pimblett"},{"result":"W","record":"26–5","opponent":"Rafael Fiziev","method":"Decision (unanimous)","kind":"DEC","round":"3","time":"5:00","date":"2025-03-08","event":"UFC 313","location":"Las Vegas, Nevada, United States","notes":"Fight of the Night.","opponentSlug":"rafael-fiziev"},{"result":"L","record":"25–5","opponent":"Max Holloway","method":"KO (punch)","kind":"KO","round":"5","time":"4:59","date":"2024-04-13","event":"UFC 300","location":"Las Vegas, Nevada, United States","notes":"Lost the symbolic UFC \"BMF\" title. Fight of the Night.","opponentSlug":"max-holloway"},{"result":"W","record":"25–4","opponent":"Dustin Poirier","method":"KO (head kick)","kind":"KO","round":"2","time":"1:00","date":"2023-07-29","event":"UFC 291","location":"Salt Lake City, Utah, United States","notes":"Won the symbolic UFC \"BMF\" title. Performance of the Night.","opponentSlug":"dustin-poirier"},{"result":"W","record":"24–4","opponent":"Rafael Fiziev","method":"Decision (majority)","kind":"DEC","round":"3","time":"5:00","date":"2023-03-18","event":"UFC 286","location":"London, England","notes":"Fight of the Night.","opponentSlug":"rafael-fiziev"},{"result":"L","record":"23–4","opponent":"Charles Oliveira","method":"Submission (rear-naked choke)","kind":"SUB","round":"1","time":"3:22","date":"2022-05-07","event":"UFC 274","location":"Phoenix, Arizona, United States","notes":"For the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. Oliveira missed weight (155.5 lb) and was stripped of the title. Only Gaethje was eligible to win the title.","opponentSlug":"charles-oliveira"},{"result":"W","record":"23–3","opponent":"Michael Chandler","method":"Decision (unanimous)","kind":"DEC","round":"3","time":"5:00","date":"2021-11-06","event":"UFC 268","location":"New York City, New York, United States","notes":"Fight of the Night.","opponentSlug":"michael-chandler"},{"result":"L","record":"22–3","opponent":"Khabib Nurmagomedov","method":"Technical Submission (triangle choke)","kind":"SUB","round":"2","time":"1:34","date":"2020-10-24","event":"UFC 254","location":"Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates","notes":"For the UFC Lightweight Championship.","opponentSlug":"khabib-nurmagomedov"},{"result":"W","record":"22–2","opponent":"Tony Ferguson","method":"TKO (punch)","kind":"KO","round":"5","time":"3:39","date":"2020-05-09","event":"UFC 249","location":"Jacksonville, Florida, United States","notes":"Won the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. Performance of the Night. Fight of the Night.","opponentSlug":"tony-ferguson"},{"result":"W","record":"21–2","opponent":"Donald Cerrone","method":"TKO (punches)","kind":"KO","round":"1","time":"4:18","date":"2019-09-14","event":"UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje","location":"Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada","notes":"Performance of the Night.","opponentSlug":"donald-cerrone"},{"result":"W","record":"20–2","opponent":"Edson Barboza","method":"KO (punch)","kind":"KO","round":"1","time":"2:30","date":"2019-03-30","event":"UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje","location":"Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States","notes":"Fight of the Night.","opponentSlug":"edson-barboza"},{"result":"W","record":"19–2","opponent":"James Vick","method":"KO (punches)","kind":"KO","round":"1","time":"1:27","date":"2018-08-25","event":"UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick","location":"Lincoln, Nebraska, United States","notes":"Performance of the Night.","opponentSlug":"james-vick"},{"result":"L","record":"18–2","opponent":"Dustin Poirier","method":"TKO (punches)","kind":"KO","round":"4","time":"0:33","date":"2018-04-14","event":"UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje","location":"Glendale, Arizona, United States","notes":"Gaethje was deducted one point in round 3 due to repeated eye pokes. Fight of the Night.","opponentSlug":"dustin-poirier"},{"result":"L","record":"18–1","opponent":"Eddie Alvarez","method":"KO (knee)","kind":"KO","round":"3","time":"3:59","date":"2017-12-02","event":"UFC 218","location":"Detroit, Michigan, United States","notes":"Fight of the Night.","opponentSlug":"eddie-alvarez"},{"result":"W","record":"18–0","opponent":"Michael Johnson","method":"TKO (punches and knees)","kind":"KO","round":"2","time":"4:48","date":"2017-07-07","event":"The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale","location":"Las Vegas, Nevada, United States","notes":"Performance of the Night. Fight of the Night.","opponentSlug":"michael-johnson"},{"result":"W","record":"17–0","opponent":"Luiz Firmino","method":"TKO (doctor stoppage)","kind":"KO","round":"3","time":"5:00","date":"2016-12-31","event":"WSOF 34","location":"New York City, New York, United States","notes":"Defended the WSOF Lightweight Championship.","opponentSlug":"luiz-firmino"},{"result":"W","record":"16–0","opponent":"Brian Foster","method":"TKO (leg kicks)","kind":"KO","round":"1","time":"1:43","date":"2016-03-12","event":"WSOF 29","location":"Greeley, Colorado, United States","notes":"Defended the WSOF Lightweight Championship.","opponentSlug":"brian-foster"},{"result":"W","record":"15–0","opponent":"Luis Palomino","method":"TKO (punches)","kind":"KO","round":"2","time":"4:30","date":"2015-09-18","event":"WSOF 23","location":"Phoenix, Arizona, United States","notes":"Defended the WSOF Lightweight Championship.","opponentSlug":"luis-palomino"},{"result":"W","record":"14–0","opponent":"Luis Palomino","method":"TKO (leg kicks and punches)","kind":"KO","round":"3","time":"3:57","date":"2015-03-28","event":"WSOF 19","location":"Phoenix, Arizona, United States","notes":"Defended the WSOF Lightweight Championship.","opponentSlug":"luis-palomino"},{"result":"W","record":"13–0","opponent":"Melvin Guillard","method":"Decision (split)","kind":"DEC","round":"3","time":"5:00","date":"2014-11-15","event":"WSOF 15","location":"Tampa, Florida, United States","notes":"Non-title bout; Guillard missed weight (158.8 lb).","opponentSlug":"melvin-guillard"},{"result":"W","record":"12–0","opponent":"Nick Newell","method":"TKO (punches)","kind":"KO","round":"2","time":"3:09","date":"2014-07-05","event":"WSOF 11","location":"Daytona Beach, Florida, United States","notes":"Defended the WSOF Lightweight Championship.","opponentSlug":"nick-newell"},{"result":"W","record":"11–0","opponent":"Richard Patishnock","method":"TKO (punches and elbows)","kind":"KO","round":"1","time":"1:09","date":"2014-01-18","event":"WSOF 8","location":"Hollywood, Florida, United States","notes":"Won the inaugural WSOF Lightweight Championship.","opponentSlug":null},{"result":"W","record":"10–0","opponent":"Dan Lauzon","method":"KO (punches)","kind":"KO","round":"2","time":"1:40","date":"2013-10-28","event":"WSOF 6","location":"Coral Gables, Florida, United States","notes":"","opponentSlug":"dan-lauzon"},{"result":"W","record":"9–0","opponent":"Brian Cobb","method":"TKO (leg kicks)","kind":"KO","round":"3","time":"2:19","date":"2013-06-14","event":"WSOF 3","location":"Las Vegas, Nevada, United States","notes":"","opponentSlug":null},{"result":"W","record":"8–0","opponent":"Gesias Cavalcante","method":"TKO (doctor stoppage)","kind":"KO","round":"1","time":"2:27","date":"2013-03-23","event":"WSOF 2","location":"Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States","notes":"","opponentSlug":"gesias-cavalcante"},{"result":"W","record":"7–0","opponent":"Adrian Valdez","method":"TKO (punches)","kind":"KO","round":"2","time":"0:19","date":"2012-11-16","event":"Rage in the Cage 164","location":"Chandler, Arizona, United States","notes":"","opponentSlug":null},{"result":"W","record":"6–0","opponent":"Drew Fickett","method":"KO (punch)","kind":"KO","round":"1","time":"0:12","date":"2012-10-20","event":"Rage in the Cage 163","location":"Chandler, Arizona, United States","notes":"Catchweight (165 lb) bout.","opponentSlug":"drew-fickett"},{"result":"W","record":"5–0","opponent":"Sam Young","method":"Submission (rear-naked choke)","kind":"SUB","round":"2","time":"1:58","date":"2012-09-29","event":"Rage in the Cage 162","location":"Chandler, Arizona, United States","notes":"","opponentSlug":null},{"result":"W","record":"4–0","opponent":"Marcus Edwards","method":"Decision (unanimous)","kind":"DEC","round":"3","time":"5:00","date":"2012-06-02","event":"Ring of Fire 43","location":"Broomfield, Colorado, United States","notes":"","opponentSlug":null},{"result":"W","record":"3–0","opponent":"Donnie Bell","method":"TKO (punches)","kind":"KO","round":"2","time":"2:57","date":"2011-12-17","event":"Ring of Fire 42","location":"Broomfield, Colorado, United States","notes":"","opponentSlug":null},{"result":"W","record":"2–0","opponent":"Joe Kelso","method":"TKO (punches)","kind":"KO","round":"1","time":"4:32","date":"2011-10-01","event":"Bring the Thunder MMA 2","location":"Pueblo, Colorado, United States","notes":"Lightweight debut.","opponentSlug":null},{"result":"W","record":"1–0","opponent":"Kevin Croom","method":"KO (slam)","kind":"KO","round":"1","time":"1:01","date":"2011-08-20","event":"Ring of Fire 41","location":"Broomfield, Colorado, United States","notes":"Catchweight (159 lb) bout.","opponentSlug":"kevin-croom"}],"women":false,"slug":"justin-gaethje","eloHist":[[2011,1363],[2012,1363],[2013,1483],[2014,1525],[2015,1529],[2016,1550],[2017,1505],[2018,1514],[2019,1608],[2020,1622],[2021,1638],[2022,1572],[2023,1644],[2024,1561],[2025,1560],[2026,1714]],"elo":1476,"eloPeak":1531,"eloPeakYear":2026,"imageCredit":{"artist":"The White House","license":"Public domain","licenseUrl":null,"page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AUFC_Freedom_250%2C_the_mixed_martial_arts_event_produced_by_the_Ultimate_Fighting_Championship%2C_Sunday%2C_June_14%2C_2026%2C_in_the_Grand_Foyer_of_the_White_House_-_67(cropped).jpg"},"pt":1,"hi":1,"fc":[552,169,149,668]}