Gaethje Admits Past Drug Addiction Nearly Killed Him in 2016
"I could say I was, I was probably a drug addict. All of them. I have never told my parents about this. The last time I ever did drugs, I woke up in an ambulance and I'm pretty sure I died. And I was like, I will never fucking do that again. My parents do not deserve that. And that was probably 2016."
About this episode
On this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, host Joe Rogan sat down with newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and his head coach Trevor Wittman just days after Gaethje's historic title victory over Ilia Topuria at the White House. The conversation opened with Rogan calling the event perhaps the greatest in combat sports history, with Gaethje pulling off a masterful upset as a 6-to-1 underdog in front of President Trump and the military. Gaethje made explosive claims about the fight itself, arguing that Topuria wanted out when he complained about eye damage and that the body shot that dropped him actually won him the fight by causing Topuria to blow his gas tank. The discussion shifted to Gaethje's mental preparation, with both fighter and coach revealing he was psychologically unprepared for his knockout loss to Max Holloway because he couldn't find anything to fear. Gaethje disclosed for the first time that he struggled with drug addiction and nearly died in 2016, crediting his parents' example for pulling him back. Wittman showcased his revolutionary MMA glove design, which both men argued is vastly superior to current UFC equipment, with renewed hope the promotion will finally adopt it. The episode covered Gaethje's wrestling background as foundational to his mental toughness, his refusal to drink water during training, the oppressive humidity at the outdoor White House venue, and his uncertain future in the sport. Gaethje emphasized he deserves compensation for his legacy rather than just future fights, having delivered on the three biggest UFC stages. The conversation closed with hunting stories and Gaethje refusing a million-dollar truck offer from a fighter who bet on him.
Key takeaways
- Gaethje claimed Topuria was trying to exit the fight by complaining he couldn't see, expecting referee Mark Goddard to stop it.
- Gaethje argued the body shot that dropped him in round two caused Topuria to exhaust his gas tank in a two-minute sprint, ultimately winning him the fight.
- Gaethje revealed he was a drug addict who nearly died in 2016, waking up in an ambulance, and quit permanently out of respect for his parents.
- Coach Trevor Wittman admitted he pushed Gaethje to take the Max Holloway fight, and Gaethje confessed he was mentally unprepared because he couldn't find anything to fear.
- Wittman showcased his revolutionary glove design with internal strapping, which both argue is vastly superior to UFC gloves and should be adopted.
- Gaethje refused a million-dollar truck from Arman Tsarukyan, who won approximately 5.7 million betting on his victory, stating he never formally agreed to accept it.
- Gaethje is taking the rest of the year off to heal from a severe bone bruise in his fibula sustained on Christmas Day.