Justin Gaethje reveals he almost lost hope before finally becoming champion

After years of setbacks, brutal defeats, and missed title opportunities, Justin Gaethje explains how his belief in himself never completely disappeared, and how that mindset ultimately led him to the biggest victory of his career.

Justin Gaethje never really lost hope of winning the title. He knew that the unpredictability of MMA would always give him a small chance of achieving his goal.

That hope paid off when he surprisingly defeated Ilia Topuria at UFC 250.

Justin Gaethje had already been interim champion twice and had previously fought in two title bouts. Both times, he lost early to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. He also suffered one of the most spectacular knockouts in UFC history at UFC 300.

After these defeats, there came a moment when, by his own admission, he began to have doubts.

“I mean, it doesn’t sound practical to say I never thought that it was gone, because going through those two fights, and then the Max Holloway fight after that, it made it real difficult."

said Justin Gaethje.

After that loss to Max Holloway, however, he bounced back. He won two fights in a row against Rafael Fiziev and Paddy Pimblett, and became interim champion for the second time.

After that, he shared the stage with Ilia Topuria, knowing it was only a matter of time before his chance came.

“I never really lost hope, i always knew that I was performing better than I had, I knew that my body still felt as good as it ever did."

he said.

In the end, it all paid off, and he was finally rewarded for his performance. For Justin Gaethje, it was a long and difficult journey, but thanks to his strong mindset, he ultimately achieved his goal.

I think it's a beautiful story. Justin Gaethje deserves it, and I find his story inspiring in a way. The fact that he was so close to his goal, fell short again, and yet didn't give up is a remarkable achievement. I hope he's reached his goal, but of course I'd also be happy if he keeps that determination.