The last time we saw Justin Gaethje in the cage he was face down on the canvas after being the recipient of the 2024 Knockout of the Year care of Max Holloway at UFC 300. That was all the way back in April, and finally “The Highlight” is talking firm plans of a return.
Gaethje confirmed reports in a new YouTube video that he’s training for a fight against Dan Hooker on March 8th at UFC 313. No contract is signed yet, but that’s not unusual these days.
“So there’s no official fight signed,” Gaethje prefaced. “But I told the UFC maybe two, three months ago that March was the day I was looking for. I know there’s a fight March 8th in Las Vegas so that’s the one I told them I wanted to be on. I think they’re figuring out fights right now but I’m certainly mentally preparing, physically preparing to fight on that date.”
“So that puts us eight and a half weeks out which means it’s really gonna be here in the blink of an eye when it comes down to things, time flies. Coming off a knockout, I’m really excited to get back to training. When you take a loss like that and you’re as competitive as I am, then it lights a fire under your ass, so we’re back to it, back in the swing of things, and back to getting ready for a specific date, a specific opponent.”
“I think it’s gonna be Dan Hooker,” Gaethje said. “But you know, with the UFC things can always change. But that’s what I’m preparing for again, mentally, physically, for that fight March 8th.”
Gaethje is 3-3 over his last six with those losses coming to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, and Max Holloway. Two of those bouts were (legit) title fights, and Justin still ranks at the top of the lightweight division at No. 3. If Hooker ends up being his opponent like Gaethje believes he’ll be, “Hangman” will look to build on his three fight win streak, the last win coming against Mateusz Gamrot that propelled him all the way up to No. 6 at 155.
Like a turtle in a tree? We’ll found out at UFC 313, if the UFC ends up sending out contracts to Gaethje and Hooker. It’s a great fight, so let’s hope it comes together.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
