Lightweight · Men

Justin Gaethje

“The Highlight”
United States Genesis Training Center debut 2008
#4 Pound for pound #2 Lightweight UFC champion · Lightweight UFC #4 · Pound for pound
Elo 2,287 peak 2,287 · 14 Jun 2026
Tapology Sherdog id 4909570
28-5pro record
3W current streak
2,397best win, Elo
1,666average opponent
-- born 14 Nov 1988
71.0" / 70.0" height / reach

Elo history

Hover for the fight at that point; dots are wins and losses

Record

-- – --
Rating by method KO1,624 Sub1,384 Dec1,591

Best wins

By the opponent's Elo on the night
  1. Ilia Topuria KO/TKO R4 · 14 Jun 2026 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 2,397
  2. Tony Ferguson KO/TKO R5 · 9 May 2020 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 2,286
  3. Dustin Poirier KO/TKO R2 · 29 Jul 2023 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 2,246
  4. Michael Chandler Decision R3 · 6 Nov 2021 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 2,066
  5. Paddy Pimblett Decision R5 · 24 Jan 2026 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 2,064

Losses

Newest first
  1. Max Holloway KO/TKO R5 · 13 Apr 2024 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 2,197
  2. Charles Oliveira Submission R1 · 7 May 2022 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 2,373
  3. Khabib Nurmagomedov Submission R2 · 24 Oct 2020 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 2,323
  4. Dustin Poirier KO/TKO R4 · 14 Apr 2018 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 2,011
  5. Eddie Alvarez KO/TKO R3 · 2 Dec 2017 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 2,028

Fight history

40 bouts, newest first; amateur bouts are shaded. Hover a heading for what it means.
# Date Result Opponent Weight class Method Round Score Elo ± Opp Elo Odds Event
40 14 Jun 202637.6 yrs W28-5 Ilia Topuria 17-0 · 29.4 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKORetirement (Corner Stoppage) R420:00 1.00 2,146→2,287 +142 2,397 +400→+380 UFC White House - Freedom 250: Topuria vs. Gaethje Ultimate Fighting Championship
39 24 Jan 202637.2 yrs W27-5 Paddy Pimblett 23-3 · 31.1 yrs Lightweighttitle DecisionUnanimous R525:00 0.75* 2,114→2,146 +32 2,064 +170→+200 UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett Ultimate Fighting Championship
38 8 Mar 202536.3 yrs W26-5 Rafael Fiziev 12-3 · 32.0 yrs Lightweight DecisionUnanimous R315:00 0.61* 2,146→2,114 -32 1,911 +112→+135 UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev Ultimate Fighting Championship
37 13 Apr 202435.4 yrs L25-5 Max Holloway 25-7 · 32.4 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKOOverhand Right R524:59 0.00 2,245→2,146 -100 2,197 -217→-161 UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill Ultimate Fighting Championship
36 29 Jul 202334.7 yrs W25-4 Dustin Poirier 29-7 (1) · 34.5 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKOHead Kick R26:00 1.00 2,130→2,245 +116 2,246 +105→+124 UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 Ultimate Fighting Championship
35 18 Mar 202334.3 yrs W24-4 Rafael Fiziev 12-1 · 30.0 yrs Lightweight DecisionMajority R315:00 0.55* 2,160→2,130 -30 1,994 +199→+195 UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 Ultimate Fighting Championship
34 7 May 202233.5 yrs L23-4 Charles Oliveira 32-8 (1) · 32.6 yrs Lightweighttitle SubRear Naked Choke R13:22 0.00 2,208→2,160 -49 2,373 +135→+118 UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje Ultimate Fighting Championship
33 6 Nov 202133.0 yrs W23-3 Michael Chandler 22-6 · 35.5 yrs Lightweight DecisionUnanimous R315:00 0.73* 2,202→2,208 +7 2,066 -184→-212 UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 Ultimate Fighting Championship
32 24 Oct 202031.9 yrs L22-3 Khabib Nurmagomedov 28-0 · 32.1 yrs Lightweighttitle SubTriangle Choke R26:34 0.00 2,280→2,204 -77 2,323 +195→+264 UFC 254: Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje Ultimate Fighting Championship
31 9 May 202031.5 yrs W22-2 Tony Ferguson 28-3 · 36.2 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKOPunches R523:39 1.00 2,163→2,280 +117 2,286 +144→+170 UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje Ultimate Fighting Championship
30 14 Sep 201930.8 yrs W21-2 Donald Cerrone 36-12 (1) · 36.5 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOHooks & Uppercuts R14:18 1.00 2,093→2,163 +71 2,025 -227→-182 UFC Fight Night 158: Cowboy vs. Gaethje Ultimate Fighting Championship
29 30 Mar 201930.4 yrs W20-2 Edson Barboza 20-6 · 33.2 yrs Lightweight KO/TKORight Hook R12:30 1.00 2,009→2,093 +84 1,994 +115→+110 UFC on ESPN 2: Barboza vs. Gaethje Ultimate Fighting Championship
28 25 Aug 201829.8 yrs W19-2 James Vick 16-2 · 31.5 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOPunch R11:27 1.00 1,916→2,009 +93 1,936 +120→+120 UFC Fight Night 135: Gaethje vs. Vick Ultimate Fighting Championship
27 14 Apr 201829.4 yrs L18-2 Dustin Poirier 22-5 (1) · 29.2 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOPunches R415:33 0.00 2,001→1,916 -85 2,011 +110→+110 UFC on Fox 29: Poirier vs. Gaethje Ultimate Fighting Championship
26 2 Dec 201729.0 yrs L18-1 Eddie Alvarez 28-5 (1) · 33.9 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOKnee & Punches R313:59 0.00 2,108→2,001 -107 2,028 -195→-181 UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo 2 Ultimate Fighting Championship
25 7 Jul 201728.6 yrs W18-0 Michael Johnson 21-11 · 31.1 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOPunches & Knees R29:48 1.00 2,056→2,108 +52 1,908 +120→+140 UFC: The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale Ultimate Fighting Championship
24 31 Dec 201628.1 yrs W17-0 Luiz Firmino 20-7 · 34.8 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKODoctor Stoppage (Swollen Eye) R315:00 1.00 2,042→2,056 +14 1,619 -405→-405 WSOF 34: Gaethje vs. Firmino World Series of Fighting
23 12 Mar 201627.3 yrs W16-0 Brian Foster 25-8 · 31.9 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKOLeg Kicks R11:43 1.00 2,019→2,042 +23 1,690 -326→-326 WSOF 29: Gaethje vs. Foster World Series of Fighting
22 18 Sep 201526.8 yrs W15-0 Luis Palomino 23-10 · 34.9 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKOPunches R29:40 1.00 1,989→2,019 +30 1,716 -650→-650 WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino 2 World Series of Fighting
21 28 Mar 201526.4 yrs W14-0 Luis Palomino 23-9 · 34.5 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKOLeg Kick & Punches R313:57 1.00 1,944→1,989 +45 1,761 -415→-415 WSOF 19: Gaethje vs. Palomino World Series of Fighting
20 15 Nov 201426.0 yrs W13-0 Melvin Guillard 32-14-2 (2) · 31.6 yrs Lightweight DecisionSplit R315:00 0.93* 1,898→1,944 +46 1,775 -190→-190 WSOF 15: Branch vs. Okami World Series of Fighting
19 5 Jul 201425.6 yrs W12-0 Nick Newell 11-0 · 28.3 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKOPunch R28:09 1.00 1,867→1,898 +32 1,604 -435→-435 WSOF 11: Gaethje vs. Newell World Series of Fighting
18 18 Jan 201425.2 yrs W11-0 Richard Patishnock 6-1 · 26.1 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKOPunches R11:09 1.00 1,856→1,867 +10 1,375 -900→-900 WSOF 8: Gaethje vs. Patishnock World Series of Fighting
17 26 Oct 201324.9 yrs W10-0 Dan Lauzon 17-4 · 25.6 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOPunches R26:40 1.00 1,807→1,856 +50 1,645 -300→-300 WSOF 6: Burkman vs. Carl World Series of Fighting
16 14 Jun 201324.6 yrs W9-0 Brian Cobb 20-7 · 32.8 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOLeg Kicks R312:19 1.00 1,722→1,807 +85 1,713 -280→-280 WSOF 3: Fitch vs. Burkman 2 World Series of Fighting
15 23 Mar 201324.4 yrs W8-0 Gesias Cavalcante 17-6-1 (2) · 29.7 yrs Lightweight KO/TKODoctor Stoppage (Cut) R12:27 1.00 1,634→1,722 +88 1,634 -130→-130 WSOF 2: Arlovski vs. Johnson World Series of Fighting
14 16 Nov 201224.0 yrs W7-0 Adrian Valdez 1-6 Welterweight KO/TKOPunches R2 1.00 1,632→1,634 +2 870 – Rage in the Cage 164 Rage in the Cage
13 20 Oct 201223.9 yrs W6-0 Drew Fickett 42-18 · 32.9 yrs Welterweight KO/TKOPunch R10:12 1.00 1,586→1,632 +46 1,408 – Rage in the Cage 163 Rage in the Cage
12 29 Sep 201223.9 yrs W5-0 Sam Young debut Welterweight SubRear-Naked Choke R2 1.00 1,577→1,586 +9 1,062 – Rage in the Cage 162 Rage in the Cage
11 2 Jun 201223.5 yrs W4-0 Marcus Edwards debut · 23.1 yrs Lightweight DecisionUnanimous R315:00 0.84 1,524→1,577 +53 1,498 – ROF 43: Bad Blood Ring of Fire
10 17 Dec 201123.1 yrs W3-0 Donnie Bell 2-0 · 21.3 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOStrikes R27:57 1.00 1,481→1,524 +43 1,287 – ROF 42: Who's Next Ring of Fire
9 1 Oct 201122.9 yrs W2-0 Joe Kelso 1-6 – KO/TKOPunches R14:32 1.00 1,470→1,481 +11 992 – BTT MMA 2: Genesis Colorado Regional
8 20 Aug 201122.8 yrs W1-0 Kevin Croom 4-2 · 24.1 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOSlam R11:01 1.00 1,367→1,470 +103 1,429 – ROF 41: Bragging Rights Ring of Fire
7 15 Apr 201122.4 yrs W7-0 Aaron Carter 3-1 · 20.6 yrs – KO/TKOKnees R3 1.00 1,339→1,367 +28 1,116 – ROF 40: Backlash Ring of Fire am
6 5 Jun 201021.6 yrs W6-0 Scott Cleve 4-0 · 27.9 yrs – DecisionSplit R315:00 0.56 1,357→1,339 -18 1,209 – ROF 38: Ascension Ring of Fire am
5 17 Apr 201021.4 yrs W5-0 Steve Hanna debut · 22.9 yrs – KO/TKOPunches R11:01 1.00 1,321→1,357 +36 1,152 – FTW - War Fight to Win am
4 1 Aug 200920.7 yrs W4-0 Kevin Gonzales 0-1 – SubArmbar R11:20 1.00 1,306→1,321 +15 949 – ROF 35: Summer Brawl Ring of Fire am
3 15 May 200920.5 yrs W3-0 Nick Rhoads 1-1 · 19.1 yrs – SubArmbar R3 1.00 1,273→1,306 +34 1,088 – Rage in the Cage 127 Rage in the Cage am
2 1 May 200920.5 yrs W2-0 Austin Greer 2-1 – KO/TKOPunches R2 1.00 1,224→1,273 +49 1,133 – VFC 27: Mayhem Victory Fighting Championship am
1 2 Aug 200819.7 yrs W1-0 Ben DeAnda debut – KO/TKOPunch R10:27 1.00 1,158→1,224 +66 1,158 – Battle Under The Stars 1 Colorado Regional am