Justin Gaethje has opened up about the sad reality of the sacrifices some fighters have to make to get to the pinnacle of MMA.
On Saturday night, at UFC 313, ‘The Human Highlight Reel’ will return to action in an explosive rematch with Rafael Fiziev, inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
The contest could not only serve as an opportunity for Gaethje to join an exclusive $1 million club with Donald Cerrone, but also his final chance to propel himself towards another shot at the lightweight title.
And it’s fair to say he’s willing to put everything on the line to get the job done.
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Justin Gaethje candidly opens up about the reality of his life in the UFC
While fans know and love Justin Gaethje for being a UFC superstar, who dazzles under the bright lights, delivering some of the greatest fights in combat sports history, the reality of his life away from the cameras isn’t exactly what you’d expect.
While some mixed martial artists enjoy the fame the sport provides, the 36-year-old lives a simpler existence.
Rather than taking advantage of his star power, or even trying to find a soul mate, he’s instead dedicated every fibre of his being to honing his craft to become the very best mixed martial artist he can be.
In an interview with The Full Send podcast, he explained: “I isolate myself, I don’t look at messages on Instagram, I don’t send messages on Instagram, I don’t go out — you would not like my life—it would be boring for you.
“I live alone. Sometimes, I’m like, ‘Hello, hello’, to make sure my voice still works. I take away all distractions.
“I would love to have a family, I would love to be married, but it didn’t happen. Right now, I control everything; this is all that matters. When I’m done, I’ll enjoy every single bit of it.”
Justin Gaethje called Daniel Cormier ‘Crazy’ after an early morning phone call
While the Fiziev fight is an intriguing prospect, Gaethje was initially scheduled to go head-to-head with Dan Hooker.
Upon hearing the New Zealander was injured, Daniel Cormier quickly contacted his friend to express his displeasure.
And while the all-action brawler was slightly disgruntled at his phone buzzing at six in the morning, that wasn’t what annoyed him the most.
As it turned out, it was a question Cormier asked, that left Gaethje raging.