Justin Gaethje admitted to experiencing fear after his fight with Max Holloway, a feeling he hadn’t encountered in a long time.
This wasn’t fear of Holloway himself, his opponent for nearly 25 minutes in the “BMF” title fight at UFC 300 in April 2024. However, Holloway’s stunning knockout in the fight’s final second made Gaethje confront the inherent dangers of MMA once again.
Throughout his impressive 14-year career, Gaethje has been known for both delivering and absorbing heavy hits, earning eight UFC Fight of the Night bonuses as evidence. He is set to return to the Octagon next Saturday, his first fight since UFC 300, against Rafael Fiziev. Fiziev steps in to replace the injured Dan Hooker, in a rematch of their previous UFC 286 bout which Gaethje won by decision.
Gaethje is enthusiastic about this upcoming fight, partly because Holloway’s knockout served as a stark reminder of his own vulnerability in the cage.
“Out of my 25 wins, 20 have been knockouts,” Gaethje stated on The Jim Rome Show. “It’s part of the game, and fighters react to these situations differently. We’ve seen examples like Alex Pereira, who recovered from a brutal knockout to achieve great success.”
“I’m excited to feel that fear again. As you gain experience, that feeling can fade. You might start believing you’re invincible and forget the real danger. When that danger isn’t present in your mind, your body might not react optimally. Knowing this fight will be intense and potentially frightening, I anticipate tapping into a primal instinct, with adrenaline surging. That’s a unique and powerful feeling I’m eager to experience.”
Interestingly, Gaethje has never lost a fight by decision. His losses include three knockouts or technical knockouts and two submissions.
One of those submission losses was against Charles Oliveira at UFC 274 in May 2022, when Gaethje competed for the vacant lightweight title. The high stakes of that championship fight amplified his anxiety.
When asked about the last time he felt fear, Gaethje mentioned “Charles Oliveira. Not fear of him as a fighter, but fear of the opportunity itself. It was such a significant fight for the belt, and I desperately wanted to succeed. Sometimes, you create excessive pressure on yourself. A key reason I compete is to inspire others, and I want people to realize I’m not extraordinary. I simply love this sport.”
“I’ve dedicated immense effort and my entire life to this. This upcoming fight is about proving my resilience – either I get back on track, or I give up, and quitting has never been an option for me. I’m excited to step back into the cage and demonstrate that success isn’t about being special; it’s about self-belief and hard work.”
Gaethje has maintained a relatively less active fight schedule, rarely competing more than twice a year since 2014. This might be a contributing factor to his longevity in the sport, given his aggressive and physically demanding fighting style.
Gaethje believes the limited fight frequency is due to the significant mental strain involved in preparing for and entering the octagon, not just the physical demands.
“I’ve always been drawn to this sport because of its unpredictability. Anything can happen at any moment, and I’ve embraced that element. I focus on what I can control, which isn’t much, and accept that I’m engaged in a wild undertaking, and I’m a bit of a madman for it.”
“The positive aspect is that I only need to be this ‘crazy’ once or twice a year. The rest of the time, I could easily pursue something calmer, like golf. But this is deeply meaningful to me. I’ve dedicated my entire life to it, and I’m not going to back down now.”
Several lightweight contenders, including Mateusz Gamrot and Renato Moicano, expressed interest in fighting Gaethje. However, it was Fiziev who received the opportunity for a rematch and a chance to avenge his previous defeat.
While a victory over Fiziev may not dramatically elevate Gaethje’s ranking, he is confident that continuing to deliver exciting performances will keep him in contention for a lightweight title shot against champion Islam Makhachev.
“Ultimately, the opponent doesn’t matter much,” Gaethje concluded. “Timing is crucial in this sport. Look at Dustin Poirier; I defeated him, and he subsequently fought for the title. I believe the timing will align favorably. If I go out there and secure a finish with the kind of spectacular performance I consistently deliver, I’m confident I’ll be a top contender for a fight with Makhachev.”
