how long has justin gaethje been in the ufc

Justin Gaethje has been in the UFC since July 7, 2017, so as of January 2026 he’s been in the promotion for about 8 and a half years.

Quick Scoop: Justin Gaethje’s UFC Run

• Gaethje signed with the UFC in May 2017 after leaving World Series of Fighting, where he was lightweight champion.

• He made his Octagon debut on July 7, 2017, against Michael Johnson at The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale, winning by second-round TKO in a wild, back-and-forth fight.

• Counting from that debut to early 2026, he has been a UFC fighter for roughly 8 years and 6 months.

A brutally fun example

In that debut vs. Michael Johnson, Gaethje walked forward, ate big shots, and still overwhelmed Johnson with pressure and knees to force a TKO, immediately earning a reputation as one of the UFC’s most exciting lightweights.

SEO bits

• Focus keyword: “how long has justin gaethje been in the ufc” — Answer: about 8.5 years as of early 2026.

• Meta description: Justin Gaethje joined the UFC in July 2017 and has now been in the promotion for around eight and a half years, stacking bonus-heavy wars along the way.

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