UFC Fighter Won 20 Knockouts Despite Not Seeing Clearly
Justin Gaethje became one of MMA's most feared strikers while fighting half-blind for years. The UFC star couldn't see properly until 16 fights into his career, when he finally afforded the surgery that changed everything.
Imagine winning 20 professional fights by knockout when you can't even tell how far away your opponent is standing.
That's exactly what UFC fighter Justin Gaethje did for the first half of his career. Born short-sighted in one eye and long-sighted in the other, the American wrestler turned MMA star fought through severe depth perception problems that would have sidelined most athletes.
"If I close one eye, they'd be 5ft away and if I close the other they would be right in my face," Gaethje told BBC Sport. For years, he simply "punched the middle one" when his eyes showed him conflicting distances.
The 37-year-old couldn't afford laser eye surgery until 16 fights into his professional career. When he finally got the procedure, the world transformed before his eyes.
"I saw mice scurrying across the road when I was driving, gnats hovering over the sidewalk," Gaethje recalls. "I really understood how much I was missing."
His wrestling background became his secret weapon. The hands-on nature of grappling taught him to fight on the inside, where he could touch opponents to know exactly where they were before throwing punches.
Why This Inspires
Gaethje's story reveals how obstacles can shape unexpected strengths. His vision problems forced him to develop elite close-range fighting skills that became his trademark style.
But his transformation didn't stop with his eyes. In 2022, after losing a title fight to Charles Oliveira, Gaethje had surgery to repair his septum, damaged 13 years earlier during his wrestling career.
"It was awesome being able to taste my food again," he says. "Those years were something else. I couldn't see, taste or smell."
Now facing Britain's Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title this Saturday at UFC 324 in Las Vegas, Gaethje fights with all his senses intact. Life has been "awesome" since the surgeries, he says, though he remains grateful for the journey.
"Every experience I've had has shaped me and made me the person I am so I'm thankful for all of it," Gaethje reflects.
Saturday night, when he steps into the octagon at the T-Mobile Arena, he'll see his opponent clearly for one of the first times in his storied career.
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Based on reporting by BBC Sport
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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