Video
Original Description
Justin Gaethje talks with ESPN's Brett Okamoto and discusses his aspirations for the remainder of his career, praises Max Holloway and reflects on Dustin Poirier's career.
✔ For more UFC, sign up for ESPN+ http://espnplus.com/ufc/youtube
✔ Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
✔ Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
✔ Subscribe to ESPN FC on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoESPNFC
✔ Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoNBAonESPN
✔ Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV
Video Transcript
What's up guys? Brett Okamoto from ESPN
joined today by UFC lightweight Justin
Gai. And before we start this
conversation, full disclosure, you may
have seen it on our social media
channels. Justin and I are in the
process of partnering on a golf venture
called Press, which we're very excited
about. But today's focus is the same.
It's always been uh he and I just
talking about his career, talking about
what's going on in the UFC. So Justin,
thank you for the time. Thank you for
jumping on with me. Uh obviously back in
March we watched you get a big win over
Rafael Faziv in Las Vegas and then in
June the UFC fills its vacant title
between Elilia Tapora and Charles
Olivera. Where do you believe things
stand right now in terms of you the
lightweight division as of today July
22nd? Yeah, I think it's um you know,
I've been talking a lot saying, you
know, what I think I feel I deserve,
what I want, but ultimately I think this
is uh such a timing thing when it comes
down to uh who's going to fight Ilia
next. Um I think I'm one of I I thought
two, but now three, you know, with Max
having a big win. It's me, Armen or Max,
I would assume that has to fight him if
he's going to fight this year. If he's
not going to fight this year, then who
knows what's going to happen. But, you
know, for me, um,
you know, I've said my peace, and now,
um, I just feel like I need to train,
work out, and, you know, I'm going to
fight these all these guys are really
good. I'm fighting the best guys in the
world. So, I know that's going to be,
uh, you know, something that's a
challenge I'm going to have in the
future, and I hope it's Ilia, I hope
it's in November, I hope it's in Madison
Square Garden. Um, that's what I'm
planning for. That's what I'm, you know,
trying to speak into existence. But
again, you never know with the UFC end.
You know, I can only worry about what I
can control and that's um how ready I'll
be for my next fight. So, you know, I'm
leaving it up to my manager. I think I
have the best manager in the world. I
think the circumstances, you know, could
line up well for me to get that fight.
And so, that's that's what I'm preparing
for.
You you uh you you stressing about it at
all? Like, is it hard not to think about
it to know exactly what you feel like
you're deserved? Is it tough not to feel
like entitled to something here? Uh, I
mean, of course, but again, I have to
really um, you know, be considerate from
all perspectives. I think obviously, you
know, from my perspective, I'm biased.
You know, I want them to pick me, you
know, I want I want to be the guy that
they pick. Uh, but there's other guys
out there that have the same feelings.
Um, same desires. So, I think uh I
control what I can control. I mean, I
think I've been the most consistent guy
that's ever fought for this company.
Yeah.
The most exciting. Um, you know, I've
stuck around, unfortunately for them. I
have fought for the uh belt three times,
but I'm still here. I'm still in top
five. I'm still um competing with the
best guys in the world. And you know,
while I'm doing that, um that I'm only
doing that to to fight for the
championship fight. And you know,
I'm not going to take fight. Again, I
don't want to harp on the the whole I
did the Max thing for them, you know.
Yeah. Uh, I don't want to sound like a
resentful, you know, employee, which
we're not employees, but, you know,
contractor. I don't want to sound like a
resentful contractor, you know. I want
to, um, again, the the platform they've
given us is huge. The opportunities I've
got to play golf with some of the
biggest uh, athletes in the world is
huge, and that's probably half for the
part because of the platform that the
UFC gave me. So, I'm just uh, enjoying
enjoying this life. You know, every
day's a weekend for me. I get to spar
day. Feels like a Friday or a Saturday
because get to get punched in the face,
you know, do some cardio and then
probably make it onto a golf course. So,
I have nothing to complain about.
Yeah. You still enjoying all of that as
much as you always have, huh? Like, uh,
the sparring still still gets you up.
It's still enjoyable for you, the
workouts, everything else. Like, is it
still what you love to do is to get in
the gym and train martial arts? That
that passion is still there as much as
it it's always been?
Yeah. Yeah. I think of the passion is is
as as strong as it's ever been. You
know, my desire to compete is as strong
as it's ever been. You know, I think my
athletic ability. Obviously, I'm going
to be the last one to um to admit that
I've lost a step, but I do not believe
I've lost a step in any way, shape, or
form. I think the game that we play is
absolutely insane. Um I think you have
to be prepared and you have to put
yourself in positions to uh to be great.
Um,
and you know, in the in this sport that
just that means showing up, putting
yourself in in these big fights, which
I've done consistently, and I'm hoping
to do that again, and then uh do
something amazing. Uh, best case
scenario, best chapter of my book. Uh,
if it happens, I will believe this is a
simulation. But I beat Tapora this year,
defend it against Holloway on the White
House lawn and retire with the BMF and
the championship belt.
Yeah, that would be
there's no better way for me to write
it, but I'm a little biased. Like I
said,
that that would be absolutely insane. I
mean, when you like uh I mean, we're
trying to just control what we can
control on your side, you know, and uh
and not
not get too tied up with any one
potential uh pathway, but the the White
House thing, you know, obviously that's
a lot of discussions going around about
it for you.
Like when you when you saw that
announcement from Trump, I mean, what
what was your reaction to it? And
obviously like
it's weird. It's such a weird game that
we're playing because you see you saw
all these people jump online like oh
like Conor McGregor or Irish, you know,
it doesn't make sense. They're all just
trying to it's just a bunch of people,
you know, um that really want people to
pay attention and talk about them. I saw
that and I was like absolutely awesome.
That's, you know, a year away. I hope
I'm alive then. I hope I'm still
competing then. You know, I'm a quarter
mile at a time kind of guy. And of
course if that if that opportunity comes
I'm that's you know I'm I'm one of the
few and only that has carried our flag
and represented this country since since
I started this sport you know it was to
represent my town then my city then my
state then my college and uh you know
for 18 years I've got to represent or
maybe a little less 15 16 years got to
represent my country against all these
dudes from all over the world. So you
know that's my favorite part that would
be again so perfect that I wouldn't
believe uh this is real. So that's what
I'm working for. That's what I'm trying
to make happen.
Yeah, that would be insane. And if it
came against Max Holloway with the
history there. Can I go back to real
quick to 317? You were in the you were
in attendance right there front row for
Elit Pory versus Charles Alivera. What
did you think was going to happen and
then what takeaways did you have? Like
what was your reaction to what happened
uh on that night?
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you'd be amazed how
many times people ask me what
what I think is going to happen and like
they really they really um think that
I'm going to have some kind of insight.
I really have no clue what's going to
happen to any of these fights. Same with
Holloway and Porier this weekend. I
really, this sport is so insane and I'm
so happy that we can't bet on sports cuz
I am wrong way more than I'm right. And
yeah, I I didn't have a pick, you know,
I was uh interested to see how how the
size, you know, would trans transfer
over to to lightweight.
And yeah, kid kid looks really really
good, you know, really dangerous. his
two three is probably the best one that
we've seen um definitely this decade.
But uh yeah, it's special. He's got
really really good footwork, really good
position. Um and confidence is such a
huge factor and you know with the
confidence he has right now and and the
momentum which is also huge factor is
huge. So to fight a guy like that to to
steal momentum from him early is
important. And
yeah, he's dangerous. He's dangerous and
he likes to fight. So, it's a, you know,
I think it's a a great matchup for
anybody. You know, I think obviously
they want to keep Armen away from him
because Arman's boring as nobody wants
to watch Armen fight anybody. And then,
you know, outside that hallway is now
obviously they fought before. I think
Holloway at 155 is a different different
animal. Um, and maybe Tapora is too. So,
I'm excited that these guys have come up
to lightweight and made the most
exciting division in the world more
exciting. Uh they're both Holloway and
Porier Art or Tapora both huge names
coming up and um you know that weight is
transferring over well. Their speed is
dynamic and and and faster than what
we're expecting and expected and you
know it's something that we're going to
have to get ready for.
Yeah. When you say his 23 is the most
dangerous or the best one that you've
seen in like a decade. That to me is
like interesting because and it's what
makes boxing and uh and mixed martial
arts and really all sports like uh it's
that's what makes it fascinating is you
would think of a 23 as something fairly
simple. Throw a 23. You know what what
about his makes it look so dangerous.
Why is it why is the best one you've
seen in the last decade?
Yeah. Well well I said I also said that
his footwork and his position I mean
those are the things that set up and put
you you know give you the ability to
deliver shots like that. Um, not only is
he in position to to throw those
punches, but he's also in position to
take punches, you know, just like we saw
him catch that elbow, you know, in the
middle of that combination, but he his
shots were more effective cuz he was,
you know, kind of um
expecting it and then in position to
take that shot and deliver that shot. Uh
yeah, I mean um
the battle I mean he's like he's in good
position all the time. So it's going to
be a battle of footwork, you know,
trying to control his feet, trying to
control range. And Olive, you know, as
we all know, does get hit a lot and can
be said for a lot of us, you know, but
consistently pretty much him does get
hit and uh yeah, they were effective. So
yeah, I'm excited. Again, I would love
for that chance to uh just this sport's
so crazy. I believe that obviously I
have the skills. I have the desire. Um I
just need the opportunity to go in there
and and perform and make something make
something happen.
Yeah. Uh you and Trevor already talking
about it. You like looking at his
boxing. I mean obviously I think the
world of Trevor Whitman I think the
whole sport does and his his ability to
look at Elia Taporia and break him down
like I could have a conversation with
Trevor about that right now for probably
an hour. Have you guys had those
conversations? Have you started to look
at that matchup?
Yeah. No. So, I mean, um, you know,
you've interviewed me, you've
interviewed me in the past and you've,
you know, I've always told you and kind
of harped on that I really have never,
you know, as a as a fan and as a fan of
the sport. I love watching him compete
and obviously I watch, you know, all
everybody's technique when I'm in there.
That's why I like to go to live fights.
It's all different. Um, but I'm not
going to ever I rely on Trevor to to
watch that fight to determine, you know,
the the the type of style that we would
we would approach uh that fighter with
and, you know, he'll have the
conversations that we need to have, but
I don't I don't ask specific questions.
Um, and he will implement it into our
workouts, you know, um, non-verbbally.
And that's how I that's how I learn. And
I think we're all different. And that's
how that's how I'll approach it.
So, you're standing there and you you
watch the fight unfold and then they
show you on camera and then, you know,
you've talked about Arman, you've talked
about obviously uh Max after what he did
over the weekend. You haven't mentioned
the name Patty and I think I'd probably
understand why. I mean, according to the
rankings, I didn't look at him this
morning, but I think he's somewhere
around eight or 10 or something like
that. So, clearly from a rankings
perspective, he is not deserving of
next, but you also know how the sport
works and the fact that he gets into the
octagon. What were you thinking when all
of that unfolded? And do you see him as
an opponent just in terms of getting
your title shot first? It doesn't sound
like it, but do you do you see
No, absolutely. I mean, absolutely not.
I mean, if that's the if that's the um
the route that they want me to take,
then I don't believe that they they need
me anymore. You know what I mean?
I and I know that sounds, you know,
petty or whatever, but
I'm uh number three.
I'm three and one in my last four.
The champion was calling to fight me.
They vacated. They they bring a new guy
in and give a guy that's two and two
fight. Um,
so if they want to if their algorithm
and and and their math tells them just
to use me until I get beat, then I'm
going to have to really reevaluate what
I'm doing here because
no, I think it's I've signed up for a
merit-based system. I have lived by
that, you know, and if they want if if I
if they want to give Armen the fight,
which Arvin the bed, you know, had the
fight,
I had the fight, but I took another
fight for them. He had the fight and
pulled out because of his back hurt. I
mean, those were two different
scenarios. And so, for me to get put in
the same position as him and have to
fight for my for my my my spot, then no,
that I'm not not I'm going to be upset
about that. Then I mean that I was I was
I knew that it was a mistake. I knew
that it wasn't like the UFC's doing. I
knew it was kind of just a uh
you know just kind of what was happening
because of the environment
you know with Joe calling him in. I was
obviously upset. My nephew was there
with me. I I walked out with you know
both of my fingers in the air
at first while he was doing his
interview. They were trying to put me
and Armen in a camera frame together
because I was trying to exit. He was
right behind me and they were filming
him and I kept moving to get out of the
way so they could film him and they kept
like readjusting and putting me in in
frame and I was like what are you doing?
He's like I'm you know like pointing at
both of us to saying he was trying to
get us in a frame together. So as Patty
and him are in there, they're trying to
put me and Armen in a frame and I was
like you get that camera away from me.
You wish that you were going to do this
right now. Don't go yourself.
Yeah. Yeah. And I mean,
so it's just it's just uh the directors,
everyone everyone's trying to make a
show. It's, you know, it's it's again I
I thought it was 100% merit-based, but
it's completely not 100% that. And I and
I'm okay with that and I get it. And
luckily, I fight so excitingly that it
transfers over to being a merit-based
and performance and, you know, um
entertainment. you know, I'm perfect.
Other than on the microphone, outside
that, you know, I'm I'm there. But
yeah, I think it was just uh you know,
everyone trying to make a show, trying
to try to make a movie, try to make an
episode. Um and I don't think any of
it's going to matter in the future.
Yeah. And I I don't like
be damned if they're going to put me in
a frame and set me up like that.
Yeah. Yeah. And and I get it. And so
like I don't want to I want to be
careful how I phrase this next question
because I don't want it to sound like
it's not I don't get this sense from you
that you're like laying out this
ultimatum of like I get a title fighter
I retire and sometimes that that's how
people interpret it or that's how it's
like promoted that's how people put it
into headlines but I guess my question
to you is and I know you're not really
trying to think about it but have you
made peace with the possibility that you
won't fight again? Like do you feel like
you've gone through that part of it?
I don't even want to I don't even want
to entertain that conversation because
like I said I have all the desire to
compete. So yeah,
if if I felt that in any way, then I I
would be done here.
Um
I just want to obviously from a biased
perspective be recognized as the most
consistent and you know, one of the top
guys in the world. You know, I've done
I've done I did what I did. if you want
me to. How many more fights do I have to
if I fight fight fights where if they
win to get a championship and I win and
and it's still I'm maybe going to have
to fight someone else. Like these are
not this this is not the situation I
wanted to get myself in and this is the
situation I'm going to keep myself from
and that's just that's where we're at.
Yeah. Yeah. Last thing for you. You were
there front row for that fight last
weekend and uh obviously all of us were
um I mean we were there for a fight but
we were also to see there there to see
Dustin Porier's last walk. Um what what
were your
Yeah.
What were your thoughts on on Saturday
watching that fight?
Yeah. No, I mean and again you know um
with me being towards the end of this
journey like if there's a timeline it's
not the beginning. I was h I'm happy for
him you know. I'm very very happy for
him. I was hoping that, you know, that
neither one of them got seriously
injured. I'm kind of glad it was a, as
much as I love knockouts, I'm kind of
glad nobody got knocked out, you know,
because I have so much respect for both
these guys. They've been around for so
long. I think it was uh crazy that, you
know, Max Holloway's first fight in the
UFC was Dustin Puri. Dustin Pory's last
fight in the UFC was Max Holloway. Um,
so as a fan of the sport, those those
are the things that I was kind of, you
know, reminiscing about as they were
walking out. And then again just kind of
understanding, you know, what Dustin has
been for this sport. You know, the kind
of underdog story that he he his story
really is to come in at, you know, he he
couldn't have been more than 22, 21, 22
years old. To come in there to start at
the bottom of the pay scale when nobody
was getting paid really when really
nobody was getting paid nothing. He's
probably making three $4,000 back then
if he lost.
Yeah. Um,
and so to do that, come, you know, come
fight for the championship so many
times. Um, to get the biggest company in
the world to to design a show around you
and for you is special. That means you
you're special.
And he is special. He's been special for
for many years. And I'm like I said, I'm
happy that he gets to do every, you
know, be a dad, be a be a husband, you
know, um, grow some plants. Who knows
what he wants to do? I don't know. I
don't know. Uh but you know live life
and enjoy life without every three,
four, five months having to be the most
um
uh what is the
inconsiderate person in the world
to everybody around you?
You looking you looking to grow some
plants and start a garden when you
retire?
I already have all that. I got no wife,
no kids. I got time for that now.
Uh man, thank you so much for the uh for
the time, bro. I appreciate it. Uh I'm
eager to see what's going to happen. I
when you lay it out I I can you imagine
if you fought at MSG let's say you won
the belt and then your last fight was at
the White House against Max Holloway and
then
and then I do I I have to ask last thing
is what if like the end of the final
moments of your career were right back
to to this you know like I got to ask
you what you feel like when you see Max
Holloway go like this and you know that
Dustin's going to meet him in the middle
and having done that yourself like
Yeah. I mean for for you guys that I
mean I get it and even you know I mean
but that
that's those 10 seconds are no different
than the first 10 seconds or the middle
10 seconds.
Yeah.
Like you you have to be perfect you know
in that moment when I was fighting
specifically I was losing and again when
he pointed the ground I nod my head and
ran there because that was I'm there to
win you know I'm there to compete. I'm
there to
to to fight until the last second and
literally I got knocked out the last
second. Um, yeah. I don't know. I would
probably hit a If he does it again, I'm
going to blast double A him.
Yeah, cuz he's so dangerous.
Yeah. Yeah,
he's lucky. Yeah. I mean, uh, he's he's
dangerous all the way around. I mean,
the kids is different at 55. I mean, his
power his power really
translates over. Uh, had him on skates
multiple times.
You know, he his four or five punch
combinations are really, really
effective. So, it's cool. You know, I'm
really excited. If they were offering me
that fight right now, I would take that
because anytime I get a chance to fight
somebody that beat me, I want that.
But again, we're going to see what
timing what the timing is and and what
route the UFC wants to go and then we'll
we'll see what's up.
Thank you, man. Yeah, we'll let you get
to sparring. We'll let you get to golf.
Really appreciate the time, bro.
All right. Peace.
[Applause]
[Music]