Justin Gaethje’s second knockout loss of the year won’t go on his official MMA record.
‘The Highlight’ famously suffered a faceplant KO defeat in the final second of his BMF title fight with Max Holloway at UFC 300 in April.
Gaethje was thought to be taking some time off to recover from the damage, but new footage shows that he’s back in the gym trading mindless body shots with former UFC fighter Luke Caudillo.
It didn’t end well and Gaethje was left rolling around the floor in agony.
- READ MORE: Justin Gaethje reveals the one thing that would have to happen to make him retire from MMA
Justin Gaethje shares footage of body shot challenge
On Wednesday, Gaethje shared training footage to his Instagram account, which showed him trading body shots with his coach.
The lightweight contender seemed to be in the driving seat. Gaethje had his trainer trapped against the fence as he cracked him with body punches and kicks.
However, Caudillo eventually responded with a perfect body shot that sent the former BMF champion crashing to the canvas.
Gaethje can be seen rolling around the floor and grunting in pain, while Caudillo celebrates his victory and Head Coach Trevor Whittman laughs at the unexpected outcome.
Caudillo proudly shared the footage to his Instagram page with a jokey caption, it read: “Like to take this moment and thank Coors Light, Modelo, and Five Nine Whiskey for making my body strong enough to take a shot for Justin Gaethje. #squirrelfindsanut #bodyshot #liver #lovemyjob #gladiatorsunleashed.”
Justin Gaethje names four potential opponents for comeback
Gaethje vowed to take six months off sparring after his brutal knockout loss against Holloway.
However, that hasn’t stopped him from talking about who he wants to face in the Octagon next.
Four men appear to be in the firing line when he makes his return to MMA.
“I think Dustin Poirier, I beat him, he fought for a belt (and) there’s always those certain set of circumstances that can happen which will lead to (a title shot),” Gaethje said in September.
“I think this fight with (Makhachev) and Tsarukyan is the next fight, then there’s kind of another opportunity for somebody like how Dustin Poirier stepped in. There’s not a clear contender.
“I have to fight and win then I’m right back in there. I have a list. I think (Dan) Hooker, (Charles) Oliveira, Poirier, and (Alexander) Volkanovski is a list of four people that I think any of those would do for me what I need to do to get back in the picture.”
Poirier has responded to Gaethje‘s call for a trilogy bout and it seems the most likely matchup.
MMA fans must now wait for UFC boss Dana White to officially announce Gaethje’s next move.