Justin Gaethje has built his reputation as one of the most exciting UFC stars in mixed martial arts but many fans might be surprised to learn about his extensive wrestling credentials. The lightweight contender competed at the NCAA Division I level and even trained alongside Jordan Burroughs, widely regarded as one of America’s greatest wrestlers. Yet in his UFC career, Gaethje has predominantly relied on striking rather than grappling — a choice that has raised eyebrows among observers who know his background.
In a recent interview, “The Highlight” addressed what he considers both the most warranted and unwarranted criticism of his approach inside the octagon.
“They’re probably the same thing,” Gaethje said. “The fact that I come from wrestling and don’t use it as much as you would think.”
He acknowledged the validity of this critique, admitting it’s
“probably a good criticism because I could have tried to implement it more early on in my career coming from a wrestler and never being a striker in any way.”
So what changed? According to Gaethje, he simply discovered a passion for the stand-up game that overshadowed his grappling roots.
“I really fell in love with that part of it,”
he explained, referring to striking.
“And I was always the best in wrestling at stopping people from taking me down.”
However, Gaethje offered another practical reason for his strategic shift — one rooted in stamina and match longevity. College wrestling matches last seven minutes while championship MMA contests can extend to 25 minutes across five rounds. The physical demands are drastically different.
“These are seven minute college wrestling matches,” Gaethje noted. “Now we’re talking 25 minute matches and I could never even walk off the mat after seven minutes. So I’m not going to get tired in seven minutes and then get my a– beat because I tried to wrestle. I’ll never lose like that.”
The strategy has clearly worked. Despite recording just one takedown across his first eleven UFC appearances — which didn’t come until UFC 286 — Gaethje has remained one of the promotion’s most popular athletes. His willingness to engage in thrilling exchanges has made him must-see television and helped secure him high-profile matchups.
In previous comments, Gaethje has been candid about the business side of his decision-making, noting that his entertaining style directly impacts his earning potential in ways that a wrestling-heavy approach might not.
Now, as speculation swirls about a potential showdown with featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, Gaethje continues betting on the same explosive approach that has defined his career — even if it means leaving his impressive wrestling pedigree largely unused.
