UFC star Justin Gaethje relives having 5 amateur fights before his first striking class

Justin Gaethje almost got knocked out in his fifth amateur fight

Gaethje never lost on the amateur scene.

In his pro debut in 2008, Gaethje won by knockout after slamming his opponent to the mat.

In his fifth amateur fight, it was Gaethje who was almost knocked out.

“It is true that I had five amateur fights before I took a striking class,” Gaethje said in a video posted to X.

“That’s when I met my coach Trevor Wittman in my fifth amateur fight.

“I almost got knocked out,” Gaethje said of his first title fight against Steve Hanna in 2010.

“It’s like, I really gotta figure out what the hell I’m doing here, so I found a coach,” Gaethje added.

After working on his striking, Gaethje fought two more times as an amateur and made his pro debut in 2011.

The American was 18-0 at one point in the UFC before he suffered his first pro loss to former UFC and Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez in 2017.

Justin Gaethje could retire if he doesn’t fight Ilia Topuria next

Gaethje is on the cusp of another UFC title shot.

The fan-favorite has won three out of his last four fights, coming off a near-finish against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 earlier this year.

Gaethje has given the UFC an ultimatum of sorts, threatening to retire if his next fight isn’t undefeated UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria.

Gaethje isn’t alone in the title conversation as Paddy Pimblett, who’s ranked one spot below, has also called on Topuria to ‘sign the contract’ against him.