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Justin Gaethje’s Wild Pizza Binge Almost Ruined 700K PPV-Generating UFC Card

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Ameetosh Dash | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 9:51 AM ET

Justin Gaethje is widely regarded as one of the most entertaining fighters on the UFC roster, admired for his ruthless aggression. The former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion has delivered countless brutal wars, significantly boosting his global popularity among fans. He has become a massive pay-per-view draw, consistently featuring in several top-tier fights over the past few years.

One of his most iconic fights was a five-round main event against the legendary Tony Ferguson at UFC 249. The fight was initially scheduled between Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight championship, a highly anticipated showdown for MMA fans. However, Gaethje replaced the undefeated ‘Eagle,’ and in a recent interview, he revealed everything that unfolded during that chaotic period.

Khabib went to Russia and he couldn’t get back cause they wouldn’t allow anybody into the country. So they called me 13 days before the fight, ‘You wanna fight Tony Ferguson for the Interim championship,’…and I started working out and two days later they called me and said the fight was off. I cut down to around 176 lbs…So we ordered Pizza Hut and I ate (expletive) tons of pizza, and I weighed 184 pounds. The next morning they called me and said the fight was back on.
Justin Gaethje via Born Primitive Tactical

As expected, the fight turned into a bloody war with Gaethje going full steam, displaying incredible striking and powerful combinations against Ferguson. ‘El Cucuy’, known for his toughness, absorbed heavy damage, but Gaethje’s precise punches and leg kicks kept breaking him down throughout the fight.

Justin Gaethje recalls getting the call to fight Tony Ferguson. He started cutting weight, two days later UFC called it off, so he crushed pizzas and hit 184 lbs. The next day they called again saying the fight was back on!

(via Born Primitive Tactical) pic.twitter.com/mJeGedTZ4O
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) September 2, 2025

In the fifth round, the referee stopped the contest, awarding Gaethje a dominant TKO victory and the interim lightweight belt. The pay-per-view event did almost 700K PPV sales and was a massive success, especially during COVID. ‘The Highlight’ has often emphasized how crucial that fight was for his career, admitting he couldn’t knock Ferguson out despite repeated attempts.

On the other hand, following that loss, Ferguson suffered an eight-fight losing streak before finally deciding to retire in 2024 permanently. The ‘Highlight’ later secured a title shot against Nurmagomedov but ultimately lost the championship bout via a submission. Now, despite setbacks, Gaethje is gunning for a third opportunity at the UFC lightweight championship, hoping for one final redemption.

Justin Gaethje’s manager talks about his potential title fight

At UFC 317, Ilia Topuria shocked the world by defeating Charles Oliveira, becoming the new UFC lightweight champion. Since then, several top contenders have become desperate for a title shot, eager to dethrone ‘El Matador’. Big names such as Paddy Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan have tried everything to provoke Topuria, demanding attention through trash talk.

Apart from them, Justin Gaethje remains confident about securing the next title shot, firmly believing the UFC owes him that opportunity. In a recent interview, Gaethje’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, discussed how an electrifying Gaethje versus Ilia Topuria clash could look if finalized.

It’s a car crash. Whoever is going to land first is going to go to sleep. This is my opinion. I think Topuria might try to wrestle with Justin, also. I think Justin Gaethje is way too dangerous to just stand in front of and throw punches. But at the end of the day, Topuria is a good striker. Justin is a very powerful striker. He’s very dangerous. Honestly, it’s one of the best fights you can make in the UFC today.
Ali Abdelaziz via Submission Radio

Abdelaziz believed the UFC could potentially give Gaethje the title, or they can go with Tsarukyan, who is the #2 contender. The ‘Highlight’, on the other hand, has already threatened the promotion with retirement if he doesn’t get the title shot. However, UFC CEO Dana White didn’t like this demeanor, and it will be interesting to see how things turn out next.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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