Justin Gaethje
The Highlight
USA
Takes war to win UFC gold
Gaethje won the Interim UFC Lightweight Championship on Saturday, defeating Paddy Pimblett via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46) at UFC 324 in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Throughout his storied WSOF (now PFL) run and early in his UFC career, Gaethje was known as a reckless brawler that pushed the pace at all costs and was willing to eat a strike in order to land two of his own. He got away from that recently, fighting much smarter and picking his spots better. Here, in what was clearly his last chance at UFC gold, he went back to his old ways and it paid off in a major way. Gaethje was at his best when he bullied Paddy up against the fence and let his hands go. He landed knockdowns in each of the first two rounds, the second of which may have very well led to a stoppage if there had been some more time on the clock. It wasn't a flawless effort, as Pimblett actually closed with a 156-144 edge in significant strikes landed, but the most notable moments of the fight came from Justin, as did the only three takedowns of the bout. We're only 24 days in 2026 and this was the first card of the year, but this one will likely be in the Fight of the Year discussion when all is said and done. As for Gaethje, he's looking at a unification bout with champion Ilia Topuria at some point. Expect the 37-year-old Arizona native to be a hefty underdog when that one finally gets booked.
Throughout his storied WSOF (now PFL) run and early in his UFC career, Gaethje was known as a reckless brawler that pushed the pace at all costs and was willing to eat a strike in order to land two of his own. He got away from that recently, fighting much smarter and picking his spots better. Here, in what was clearly his last chance at UFC gold, he went back to his old ways and it paid off in a major way. Gaethje was at his best when he bullied Paddy up against the fence and let his hands go. He landed knockdowns in each of the first two rounds, the second of which may have very well led to a stoppage if there had been some more time on the clock. It wasn't a flawless effort, as Pimblett actually closed with a 156-144 edge in significant strikes landed, but the most notable moments of the fight came from Justin, as did the only three takedowns of the bout. We're only 24 days in 2026 and this was the first card of the year, but this one will likely be in the Fight of the Year discussion when all is said and done. As for Gaethje, he's looking at a unification bout with champion Ilia Topuria at some point. Expect the 37-year-old Arizona native to be a hefty underdog when that one finally gets booked.
Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
More Fantasy News
Pimblett up next
Gaethje will fight Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 on Jan. 24, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Gaethje will be looking to capture his fourth win in five fights, although that may be easier said than done against Pimblett, who will own a three-inch reach advantage over Gaethje and boasts a perfect 7-0 record since joining the UFC in 2021.
Gaethje will be looking to capture his fourth win in five fights, although that may be easier said than done against Pimblett, who will own a three-inch reach advantage over Gaethje and boasts a perfect 7-0 record since joining the UFC in 2021.
Again bests Rafael Fiziev
Gaethje defeated Rafael Fiziev via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC 313 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It was a trademark effort from Gaethje on the heels of the most difficult performance of his career, and it also would go on to win him yet another $50,000 bonus, this time for Fight of the Night honors. When we last saw Justin last April, he was brutally knocked out by Max Holloway with just a second remaining. He returned here against a late-notice opponent in Fiziev and shined. Gaethje dropped the Round 1 on all three scorecards before storming back. He landed a big knockdown in Round 2 to even the score and outworked Fiziev in the final frame with the fight hanging in the balance. Most importantly, Gaethje, at age 36, proved there were no after effects from the Holloway finish. One of the most popular fighters in the sport, "The Highlight" will continue to get prime, headlining spots for the company.
It was a trademark effort from Gaethje on the heels of the most difficult performance of his career, and it also would go on to win him yet another $50,000 bonus, this time for Fight of the Night honors. When we last saw Justin last April, he was brutally knocked out by Max Holloway with just a second remaining. He returned here against a late-notice opponent in Fiziev and shined. Gaethje dropped the Round 1 on all three scorecards before storming back. He landed a big knockdown in Round 2 to even the score and outworked Fiziev in the final frame with the fight hanging in the balance. Most importantly, Gaethje, at age 36, proved there were no after effects from the Holloway finish. One of the most popular fighters in the sport, "The Highlight" will continue to get prime, headlining spots for the company.
Rematch with Fiziev on tap
Gaethje will now take on Rafael Fiziev in a lightweight matchup in the co-main event of UFC 313 on March 8 in Las Vegas, per UFC President Dana White.
ANALYSIS
All credit to Gaethje here, as he has everything to lose and little to gain by facing a dangerous fighter outside of the top-10 on short notice -- not to mention, one he's already beaten. The two fought back in March of 2023, and Gaethje won this fight via majority decision in a bout that took home Fight of the Night honors. Gaethje out-landed Fiziev by a mere six significant strikes over the three-round bout, in addition to being credited with one takedown (though it was non-consequential in the outcome). Since then, Gaethje has picked up a win over Dustin Poirier and lost a war to Max Holloway in April, nearly a year earlier. Fiziev, meanwhile, was finished by Mateusz Gamrot in September of 2023 and has been on the sidelines ever since due to a torn ACL.
All credit to Gaethje here, as he has everything to lose and little to gain by facing a dangerous fighter outside of the top-10 on short notice -- not to mention, one he's already beaten. The two fought back in March of 2023, and Gaethje won this fight via majority decision in a bout that took home Fight of the Night honors. Gaethje out-landed Fiziev by a mere six significant strikes over the three-round bout, in addition to being credited with one takedown (though it was non-consequential in the outcome). Since then, Gaethje has picked up a win over Dustin Poirier and lost a war to Max Holloway in April, nearly a year earlier. Fiziev, meanwhile, was finished by Mateusz Gamrot in September of 2023 and has been on the sidelines ever since due to a torn ACL.
Requires new opponent
Gaethje will not fight Dan Hooker at UFC 313 on March 8, according to Alexander K. Lee of MMAFighting.com.
ANALYSIS
Hooker withdrew from UFC 313 because of a hand injury. Even though Rafael Fiziev has offered his services for another shot at Gaethje, the latter participating in said event is not etched in stone. Perhaps there is a chance he fights someone else or Hooker at a later date.
Hooker withdrew from UFC 313 because of a hand injury. Even though Rafael Fiziev has offered his services for another shot at Gaethje, the latter participating in said event is not etched in stone. Perhaps there is a chance he fights someone else or Hooker at a later date.
Co-main event at UFC 313
Gaethje will face Dan Hooker in a lightweight matchup in the co-main event of UFC 313 on March 8, according to the UFC 311 broadcast.
ANALYSIS
While Gaethje was finished at the last second by Max Holloway in the company's "BMF Championship" at UFC 300 in April, he remains the No. 3 ranked lightweight fighter and arguably the most exciting athlete on the entire roster. After some much-deserved time off, he gets another showcase fight against the No. 6-ranked lightweight in Hooker, who is riding an unexpected three-fight winning streak. While Hooker has shown to be a capable wrestler at times, his bread and butter, like Gaethje's, is in the stand-up game. Both are high-volume strikes, though few can match the consistent output of Gaethje. This has the makings of a fan-friendly affair, as Gaethje will be forced to eat shots to get inside and negate Hooker's five-inch reach advantage.
While Gaethje was finished at the last second by Max Holloway in the company's "BMF Championship" at UFC 300 in April, he remains the No. 3 ranked lightweight fighter and arguably the most exciting athlete on the entire roster. After some much-deserved time off, he gets another showcase fight against the No. 6-ranked lightweight in Hooker, who is riding an unexpected three-fight winning streak. While Hooker has shown to be a capable wrestler at times, his bread and butter, like Gaethje's, is in the stand-up game. Both are high-volume strikes, though few can match the consistent output of Gaethje. This has the makings of a fan-friendly affair, as Gaethje will be forced to eat shots to get inside and negate Hooker's five-inch reach advantage.