Who did Justin Gaethje lose his title to? Revisiting ‘The Highlight’s luck in UFC championship fights

Justin Gaethje is widely adored by fans for his thrilling fighting style and unwavering determination. He has received numerous ‘Fight Of The Night’ bonuses throughout his successful career and is currently the reigning UFC ‘BMF’ champion.

Despite holding an impressive record of 25 wins, including 20 by knockout with nine in the first round, the no.2-ranked lightweight has experienced defeat only four times in his professional career. However, he has yet to attain the coveted lightweight gold.

Who Took the Title from Justin Gaethje? A Look Back at His UFC Championship Fights

In 2020, Justin Gaethje achieved his first championship victory when he accepted a short-notice opportunity to compete against Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight title. Gaethje showed impressive dominance throughout the fight, ultimately earning a TKO victory in the fifth round.

Despite establishing himself as a top contender in the lightweight division with the win, his championship aspirations were delayed when he competed against the unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov in a unification match later that year. Unfortunately, Gaethje suffered his first career submission defeat in the second round, ending his dream of becoming a champion.

Justin Gaethje’s third chance at UFC lightweight title

After his defeat to Khabib, Gaethje secured a hard-earned decision win against Michael Chandler in a highly praised fight that was dubbed the ‘Fight of the Year’. He was later given another opportunity to compete for the lightweight championship against Charles Oliveira in 2022. However, Oliveira failed to make weight, leaving Gaethje as the sole contender for the title. Despite successfully knocking out Oliveira twice, Gaethje was ultimately unable to secure the belt, as he was defeated by a first-round submission.

Despite facing challenges in previous championship fights, Gaethje solidifies his position as an elite fighter by defeating Dustin Poirier with a knockout at UFC 291 and claiming the ‘BMF’ belt. He is now ready to defend his title against another legendary opponent, Max Holloway, at UFC 300.