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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