Justin Gaethje
“The Highlight”
Lightweight ChampionRecord 28-5-0United StatesElevation Fight Team
The style
Pressure Striker
leg kicks · boxing · forward pressure
GrapplingStriking
Gaethje is the UFC lightweight champion, taking the belt from Ilia Topuria by corner stoppage at UFC Freedom 250 in June 2026. A former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, he almost never shoots, instead fighting a high-output, high-damage striking style built on leg kicks and forward pressure. At 37, he is on a three-fight win streak and finally holds undisputed gold after two failed title shots.
Tale of the tape
| Record | 28-5-0 |
| Age | 37 |
| Height | 5'11" |
| Reach | 70" |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Country | United States |
| Team | Elevation Fight Team |
The numbers
Career UFC averages.
| Sig. strikes landed / min | 6.29 |
| Striking accuracy | 58% |
| Sig. strikes absorbed / min | 6.83 |
| Striking defense | 51% |
| Takedowns / 15 min | 0.3 |
| Takedown accuracy | — |
| Takedown defense | 73% |
| Submission attempts / 15 min | 0 |
How they win
21 KO/TKO1 SUB6 DEC
How they lose
3 KO/TKO2 SUB0 DEC
On The Fight Brief
No fight breakdowns yet — they’ll appear here when Gaethje lands on a covered card.