Justin Gaethje might be facing a crucial moment in his career when he competes at UFC 313.
Following a knockout loss to Max Holloway, the 36-year-old lightweight took a significant break to recuperate before scheduling his next fight. This Saturday, Gaethje will have a rematch against Rafael Fiziev, who stepped in on short notice after Dan Hooker withdrew due to a hand injury.
Gaethje previously secured a majority decision victory over Fiziev, but his future hinges more on the outcome of this fight than the opponent. An impressive win could propel Gaethje back into title contention. However, a second consecutive defeat could lead him to consider whether he wants to continue fighting.
“He’s been very open about it. He won’t continue if he’s not aiming for the championship,” UFC legend Matt Brown stated about Gaethje on The Fighter vs. The Writer. “I felt similarly in my career, which led to my eventual retirement. What’s the point if you’re just fighting for a paycheck? I did that to some extent, but I don’t see Gaethje doing that. I don’t think he’s interested in fighting just for money. I believe his goal is to become champion.”
“That’s his only mission in this sport, and if he can’t achieve it, he’ll leave. If he wins, getting a title shot—he’s at least back in the conversation with the top contenders. A title shot isn’t guaranteed just by beating Fiziev after a loss, but it opens doors for contender fights and allows him to re-enter the title mix.”
Reportedly, Gaethje was already considered for a title fight when he accepted the bout against Holloway at UFC 300 this past April. That loss disrupted those plans, but given Gaethje’s exciting fighting style and potential for Fight of the Year performances, it’s conceivable he could quickly rejoin the championship race with a single victory.
Conversely, Gaethje has always been mindful of the damage he sustains due to his fighting style, which contributed to his extended layoff after the violent loss to Holloway.
Instead of rushing back, Gaethje took time to allow his brain and body to recover, a decision Brown praises him for.
“It’s interesting how you see fighters like Justin Gaethje or Robbie Lawler fight, and you might think, ‘they’re just reckless brawlers!’” Brown said. “But behind the scenes, they are some of the most intelligent, legitimate, and thoughtful individuals in the sport. Their fighting style doesn’t necessarily reflect who they are as people.”
While Gaethje is known for his ability to absorb punishment to deliver his own, he has focused on improving his defensive fighting skills in recent years.
Brown suggests that a smarter approach against Fiziev would be Gaethje’s best path to victory, though he acknowledges Gaethje earned his nickname “The Highlight” for a reason.
“He has evolved somewhat, showing better defense and strategy in recent years,” Brown noted. “However, he still possesses that inner toughness, that instinct that Holloway triggered when he proposed a stand-and-trade approach. It was clearly a mistake on Justin’s part.”
Regarding the psychological impact of the Holloway knockout on Gaethje, Brown isn’t certain, as fighters cope with such losses differently.
Brown himself experienced a similar knockout once in his career, which he believes surprisingly improved him as a fighter.
“I was knocked out once by Donald Cerrone, and it didn’t bother me at all,” Brown recounted. “I think it actually relaxed me a bit. I thought, ‘that wasn’t so bad!’ Waking up, you just realize you must not have won.”
Brown can’t predict if Gaethje’s ability to take a punch will be affected after the UFC 300 knockout, but acknowledges anything is possible.
Concerning the psychological aftermath, Brown hopes it won’t be an issue, as he can’t imagine Gaethje abandoning the style that has brought him success. Gaethje himself has even expressed being “excited to be scared again” after that fight.
“It will be interesting to see if it plays a role,” Brown said. “Fiziev is a challenging opponent to face if you’re dealing with psychological issues like being gun-shy or nervous about getting hit. Because you will get hit fighting Fiziev. That’s not ideal, but it’s good that Gaethje is open about it. We’ll have to wait and see.”
“Gaethje’s style has always involved taking hits, so it could be a significant problem if it’s a psychological issue he’s facing.”
