Justin Gaethje “The Highlight”
Lightweight · ORCA rating 70/100 · peak 70 · Power striker · 11–5 in 16 graded UFC bouts
ORCA analysis
Justin Gaethje is the UFC Lightweight Champion and carries an ORCA rating of 70. The profile peaks in striking offence: 97, 2nd of 124 active lightweights (significant strikes landed per minute 99). Grappling offence trails at 23, with submission attempts per 15 minutes grading 1. 7 of 11 UFC wins came inside the distance (all by KO/TKO).
Grades
| Family | Grade | Lightweight rank | Best reliable sub-grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striking offence | 97 | 2 of 124 | Significant strikes landed per minute 99 |
| Striking defence | 33 | 89 of 124 | Significant strikes absorbed per minute 2 |
| Grappling offence | 23 | 107 of 124 | Control time, seconds per minute 17 |
| Grappling defence | 69 | 24 of 124 | Control time conceded, seconds per minute 98 |
Strongest sub-grade: Significant strikes landed per minute 99. Weakest: Submission attempts per 15 minutes 1.
Profile
- Division
- Lightweight
- ORCA rating
- 70 (peak 70)
- Lightweight rank
- 14 of 124 active
- Title
- UFC Lightweight Champion
- UFC record
- 11–5
- Pro record
- 28–5
- Graded UFC bouts
- 16
- Style
- Power striker
- Age
- 37
- Height
- 5′11″ (180 cm)
- Reach
- 70″ (178 cm)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Gym
- Genesis Training Center
Career stats
- Significant strikes landed per minute: 6.29
- Significant strike accuracy: 58%
- Significant strikes absorbed per minute: 6.83
- Significant strike defence: 51%
- Takedowns landed per 15 minutes: 0.3
- Takedown accuracy: 27%
- Takedown defence: 73%
- Submission attempts per 15 minutes: 0
Fight history
- 2026-06-14 · W vs Ilia Topuria · KO/TKO · UFC Freedom 250
- 2026-01-24 · W vs Paddy Pimblett · Decision - Unanimous · UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett
- 2025-03-08 · W vs Rafael Fiziev · Decision - Unanimous · UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev
- 2024-04-13 · L vs Max Holloway · KO/TKO · UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill
- 2023-07-29 · W vs Dustin Poirier · KO/TKO · UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2
- 2023-03-18 · W vs Rafael Fiziev · Decision - Majority · UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3
- 2022-05-07 · L vs Charles Oliveira · Submission · UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje
- 2021-11-06 · W vs Michael Chandler · Decision - Unanimous · UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2
- 2020-10-24 · L vs Khabib Nurmagomedov · Submission · UFC 254: Khabib vs. Gaethje
- 2020-05-09 · W vs Tony Ferguson · KO/TKO · UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje
- 2019-09-14 · W vs Donald Cerrone · KO/TKO · UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje
- 2019-03-30 · W vs Edson Barboza · KO/TKO · UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Gaethje
- 2018-08-25 · W vs James Vick · KO/TKO · UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick
- 2018-04-14 · L vs Dustin Poirier · KO/TKO · UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Gaethje
- 2017-12-02 · L vs Eddie Alvarez · KO/TKO · UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo 2
- 2017-07-07 · W vs Michael Johnson · KO/TKO · The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale
Similar Lightweight fighters
- Jean Silva · ORCA 70
- Myktybek Orolbai · ORCA 70
- Mateusz Rebecki · ORCA 70
- Jake Matthews · ORCA 70
- Steve Garcia · ORCA 70
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Full profile, grades and matchups · Lightweight rankings · Upcoming cards