Justin Gaethje has won three of his last four UFC appearances. |
Getty/UFC
With the proliferation of social media, the MMA community has
become more adept at scrutinizing even the smallest details ahead
of big fights.
The latest example involves a screenshot of Justin
Gaethje taken from a recent video blog where the
UFC lightweight contender appears to have sores on his neck and
lip. That image has led to rampant speculation that Gaethje might
have developed a staph infection ahead of his interim lightweight
title clash against Paddy
Pimblett at UFC
324.
Gaethje quickly took to social media to shut down the rumor mill,
claiming that the images depicted something entirely different.
“Did you screen shot me eating brisket from my YouTube video to
make it look like I have herpes on my lip? My neck is healing an
ingrown hair,” Gaethje wrote on social media.
Did you screen shot me eating brisket from
my YouTube video to make it look like I have herpes on my lip? 😂 my
neck is a healing ingrown hair.— Justin
Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje)
January 6, 2026
It’s an ingrown hair on my neck and brisket
hanging out of my mouth Nostradamus.— Justin
Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje)
January 6, 2026
A two-time lightweight title challenger and former BMF champion,
Gaethje has been victorious in three of his last four Octagon
appearances. His matchup with Pimblett will serve as the headliner
for UFC 324, which takes place on Jan. 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in
Las Vegas. The main card airs on Paramount+ beginning at 9 p.m.
ET/6 p.m. PT.