Justin Gaethje, the current WSOF Lightweight champion, has’t been in the sport long, but everything this young fighter has done has been impressive. Fighting out of the Grudge Training Center he has amassed a spotless 12-0 record with 10 wins coming by way of TKO/KO.
Gaethje comes from a strong wrestling background and was a NCAA Division 1 All-American at the University of Northern Colorado. After college Justin entered MMA and went 7-0 as an amateur before going pro in 2011
Prior to signing with World Series of Fighting Gaethje had a 7-0 run with the Ring of Fire, a Colorado based MMA promotion. Nothing has changed for the young Lightweight since he started competing in WSOF, he is currently 5-0 in the organization with wins over Gesias Cavalcante, Brian Cobb, Dan Lauzon, Richard Patishnock, and Nick Newell.
This weekend at WSOF 15 Gaethje will make his second title defense against Melvin Guillard, who was a training partner of Justin’s for a short time.
Aaron Robbins: Training camp is over and it’s time to fight. How are you feeling going into the fight?
Justin Gaethje: “I feel awesome. Camp was awesome. There is nothing like going to bed feeling motivated, and waking up the same way. Fighting Melvin is a great opportunity. It’s great for my career, and great money-wise. It’s all good, everything has gone perfect.”
AR: Why don’t you tell the fans what led you to MMA?
JG: “Well I grew up in a really small town in Arizona, and I never got into street fights or anything like that. I had no idea if I could fight or not. I’ve been wrestling since I was young, I was always doing that. I ended up getting a scholarship to Northern Colorado, I was an All-American there. One of my coaches was bringing in UFC guys to train with us and I told him I would like to fight. He was hesitant because I had no experience, but when I got the fight I double-legged the guy and knocked him out in like 27 seconds. I pretty much relied on my wrestling for my whole amateur career. Thank god I met Trevor Whittman, he took me in at Grudge and now I’m a complete fighter. I’m not a wrestler anymore and you can’t rely on only one skill to compete.”
AR: Was it difficult for you to transition from wrestling to striking?
JG: “To be honest with you, it came pretty natural to me. I’m right handed, but I wrestled with a left leg lead, and I think that’s the reason I have success as a striker. I’m comfortable moving as a striker. It’s natural for a wrestler to have a right leg lead, but it makes it hard to strike. Honestly winning and losing during my wrestling career has taught me a lot, but I’m happy to be a complete MMA fighter now.”
AR: Tell the fans a little about your training partners at Grudge.
JG: “I have great training partners there. We got L.T. Nelson, Justin Salas, Alvin Robinson, we have a lot of really good established guys over there to help out. We have guys fighting in most of the major organizations, and a lot of talent that will show up on the radar soon.”
AR: How did you end up at WSOF?
JG: “I was very lucky actually. I was taking as many fights as I could. I actually took three fights in three months, but it didn’t seem like I was getting noticed, I felt like I was going nowhere. Then I got the call from World Series. They gave me the opportunity to fight for them and it’s been great. I’m still undefeated and now I have the Lightweight belt. I’m the first Lightweight champion of the WSOF, and I will always have love for them for giving me that opportunity.”
AR: You and Melvin were training partners for a short while over at Grudge. Do you feel that will help tomorrow?
JG: “Yeah we actually got along pretty well then. We trained together, and used to play some golf together. I don’t know if having trained with him will help. If it’s an advantage for me, it’s also an advantage for him. It makes it so it’s not completely foreign when we step in the cage. We will be familiar with each other. It’s not like training though. He’s a different fighter under the lights, and I’m a different fighter under the lights. Melvin knows how hard I’m going to be coming at him. I know how hard he hits. You guys are in for a good show. We are going to go out there and perform, and I’m confident I’ll have the belt at the end of the night.”
AR: Melvin has struggled in the past with fighters who are able to take him to the ground. Seeing that you have a strong wrestling base, it that part of your game-plan, or are you going to stand and bang with him?
JG: “Oh no. This is going to be a stand up and bang war. I’m not here to wrestle, I want to fight. I want to put on a show for the fans, and put my stamp on this championship. This might sound stupid, but winning and losing isn’t what is important for me. I feel for me to lose is to put on a performance that is less than 100% of what I can do. Wrestling takes a lot of heart, it’s the tough way out, but I’m here to perform. Fight fans want to see an exciting fight, and that means giving them a knock out. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m here, and I want the MMA world to know that.”
Unfortunately at the time of publication it was revealed that Melvin Guillard missed weight by 3.8 pounds for this fight. As far as I know at this time the fight will continue, but the title will more than likely not be on the line.
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