UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje has fought for the 155-pound title twice, and failed to capture gold both times. Now, recovering from successful nose surgery, “The Highlight” is already plotting his UFC return, as he revealed in an interview with MMAFighting. A huge piece of his return, says Gaethje, is the difference a working nose can make to one’s athletic performance.
“It’s great, it was 13 years with no nose. I’ve had two of my senses pretty much broken and fixed, my eyes and my nose, and I don’t know which one is better. I can’t imagine not being able to see, and being able to see 20-20 is something special, but being able to anticipate your food, sleep, and really just live how we’re supposed to, having two methods of oxygen intake, is something I’m really enjoying right now.
Gaethje: How A New Nose Leads To 2023 Return & Title Shot
Whenever this happened, it was in college, in the middle of a wrestling season, I was cutting weight, and even before that I was in college eating McDonald’s. I don’t miss that, but I get to eat really good food now and it’s great to really enjoy it as much as I should.”
Gaethje also mapped out the trajectory for his return, defined by two fights among the UFC lightweight elite. UFC 280 will be headlined by Makhachev vs Oliveira, while UFC 281 will see Michael Chandler face Dustin Poirier. All four are title contenders right now, giving Gaethje plenty of options.
“I told them next year. I’m starting to work out now, I’m back in a regular routine. One thing we have over other sports is that the body is resilient, but you have to give it time. I got hit really hard, I had a hard camp, and I wanted to take a break. It was nice that I got my nose fixed.
They got a fight for the title [at UFC 280], so somebody’s got to fight the loser. Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier are going to fight, somebody’s got to fight the winner. I’ll be ready next year, ideally January, February, or March, whatever they want to do. I’m not sure when Kamaru [Usman] is going to London [for the Leon Edwards rematch], but I wouldn’t mind fighting in London.”
Justin Gaethje knows that it’s a tough road back to the title conversation, but believes that he has what it takes to get there.
“Ultimately, my goal is to be the world champion. I like to follow the correct process so I think I need two wins, possibly three, hopefully it will be two – two knockouts in the first round – that gets you right back into title contention. As soon as I don’t believe, or I don’t have the confidence that I can be the best in the world, then I have no reason to keep going.”
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