Trump praises Justin Gaethje after his UFC lightweight title win

Trump the president called the 37-year-old fighter “a Great Fighter” after Gaethje claimed the UFC Lightweight Championship, making him the oldest fighter to win the belt in the division's history.

First Published: July 5, 2026, 9:57 PM EST

WHITE HOUSE — Donald Trump has praised mixed martial artist Justin Gaethje after his UFC Lightweight Championship victory on a Truth Social post on July 5, 2026 at 4:33 PM EST.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “Justin Gaethje after his Big Victory, and attaining the UFC World Championship, at the front door of the White House. He is a Great Fighter! Trump”

Trump shared the message alongside a photograph and linked to additional material by mentioning the source (see truthsocial) and his account page (see truthsocial). Gaethje is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is the current UFC Lightweight Champion (see wikipedia.org).

Born in Safford, Arizona, on November 14, 1988, Gaethje turned professional in 2011 and holds a mixed martial arts record of 28 wins and 5 losses, with 21 of those wins by knockout (see wikipedia.org). Nicknamed “the Highlight,” he has earned 17 post-fight bonus awards in 16 UFC appearances and holds the record for the most Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC history, with 11 (see wikipedia.org). At 37 years old, he became the oldest fighter to win a UFC lightweight title (see wikipedia.org).