Justin Gaethje
American mixed martial artist and Nurmagomedov's final opponent
Justin Gaethje (American mixed martial artist and Nurmagomedov's final opponent) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria, MMA gloves and eye pokes, Refereeing in mixed martial arts.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria
Gaethje says Topuria does not deserve an immediate rematch because he quit on his stool.
“No, he doesn't get a rematch. He can try, but he doesn't get one”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 1:30:05
Gaethje says Topuria likely misread his movement because of how he leans, while he was actually moving left.
“he's going to think I was moving right the whole time because my head is so heavy and I lean over to that side”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 57:38
Gaethje says his win changed how future opponents perceive Topuria, as he believes he did with Tony Ferguson.
“I didn't break Tony Ferguson's confidence. I changed the perception of his opponents”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 17:32
Gaethje argues that Topuria hurting him with body shots was a main reason he won, because it led Topuria to spend everything chasing a finish.
“I told Trevor yesterday, I think, you know, him hurting to my body was one of the main reasons I won”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 11:33
MMA gloves and eye pokes
Gaethje argues current UFC gloves are poor because they make it hard to form a fist and cause pain, and that fighter comfort should be the design priority.
“Because the gloves we're fighting in now are fucking terrible. It's hard to make a fist”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 2:00:45
Refereeing in mixed martial arts
Gaethje says referee Mike Beltran failed to protect him after an eye poke in the Michael Chandler fight.
“But his job is to protect me and he failed he failed so bad right there”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 1:38:33
Amateur wrestling
Gaethje says wrestling is the biggest factor in his success because of its individual accountability.
“is the biggest variable when it comes to my success. I mean, the mental side of it”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 1:51:07
Christianity
Gaethje credits his parents taking him to church and his faith with giving him a sense of purpose.
“the best thing they ever did for me was make me go to church every single Sunday”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 33:21
Addiction and recovery
Gaethje recounts that his last drug use, around 2016, ended with him waking in an ambulance believing he had died.
“The last time I ever did drugs, I woke up in an ambulance, and I'm pretty sure I died”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 1:57:06
Other remarks
- Prediction · due Dec 2026
Gaethje says he will not fight again for the rest of the year so his fibula bone edema can heal.
“And so I'm going to take the rest of the year. I need my body to heal”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 1:48:30
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Gaethje says the UFC should compensate him for past performances by giving him equity in a company.
“the UFC should make a company and give me equity in that company”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 1:27:38
Weight cutting in mixed martial arts
Gaethje says he wants no changes to weight-cutting rules because fighters are adults making their own choices.
“For me, I want nothing to change. I mean, we are grown-ass men and women, and we're making these choices”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 1:12:53
Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway
Gaethje says he was not mentally prepared for the Max Holloway fight.
“The truth of the matter is, psychologically, I was not there. I was not prepared mentally for the fight when I fought Max Holloway”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 22:32
Predictions
1 pending
- Prediction · due Dec 2026
Gaethje says he will not fight again for the rest of the year so his fibula bone edema can heal.
“And so I'm going to take the rest of the year. I need my body to heal”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 1:48:30
Appearances
JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor WittmanThe Joe Rogan Experience · Jun 20, 2026 · 2 h 24 min
Joe Rogan talks with new UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and coach Trevor Wittman about Gaethje's title win over Ilia Topuria at the White House.
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Joe Rogan talks with UFC heavyweight Sean Sharaf about his 12-second upset knockout of Gable Steveson, possible retirement, MMA rules, Gaza, surveillance, and AI.
#500 – Khabib Nurmagomedov: Dagestan, MMA, UFC, Islam, Conor, Fedor & FootballLex Fridman Podcast · Aug 12, 2026
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JRE MMA Show #179 with Josh Thompson & "Big" John McCarthyThe Joe Rogan Experience · May 27, 2026 · 2 h 52 min
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Often appears with
- Joe Rogan · 1 shared episode
- Trevor Wittman · 1 shared episode