UFC has reached the pinnacle of mixed martial arts, attracting elite fighters from all parts of the world. As the MMA-promotion heads into 2026 with their new Paramount+ broadcast deal, the company is set to start the year with UFC 324, with lightweight star Justin Gaethje set to headline the match card.

With Justin Gaethje‘s fight against Liverpudlian Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight belt set for January 24 and champion Ilia Topuria on break, the 37-year-old aims to cash in on what looks like a last opportunity to become the lightweight champion in UFC. But before we get to his first fight of 2026, let’s take a look back at the journey of ‘The Highlight’.

Where is Justin Gaethje from & what is his nationality?

Justin Ray Gaethje was born on November 14, 1998, in Tucson, Arizona, a city famous for its culture and food, but he grew up mostly in Safford, about 131 miles from his birthplace. As a result, being American is one of the reasons Gaethje is eager to fight at the upcoming UFC White House event on June 14.

“I’m an American and just as deserving as anybody in the lightweight division,” Justin Gaethje said on his YouTube channel, doubling down on his worthiness for a fight at the UFC White House event against Ilia Topuria this summer. Therefore, as an American fighter, Gaethje wants the chance to step into the Octagon on home soil.

What is Justin Gaethje’s ethnicity?

UFC lightweight superstar Justin Gaethje, unlike what most people assume, is actually 60 percent Mexican. He confirmed this in an interview. In fact, his mother, Carolina (née Espinoza), comes from Mexican roots, and ‘The Highlight’ proudly embraces them.

“I am Mexican. Yeah, I’m sixty percent Mexican. My mom’s a hundred percent, my nonna doesn’t speak English, that’s how I found that out,” Justin Gaethje stated during a past interview.

Additionally, the Highlight inherits some German heritage from his father, making his family background truly multicultural. Now that we’ve mapped out his roots, next, let’s take a closer look at the religion Justin Gaethje practices. Here’s what we know.

What is Justin Gaethje’s religion?

Given that the UFC has so many fighters on the roster, there is bound to be a variety in the religion that every fighter follows. But since the USA is predominantly Christian, Justin Gaethje is a devout Christian. The former UFC BMF champ has not only been seen sharing snaps of him celebrating Christmas and Easter, but has also been seen referencing Jesus Christ and god in several of his social media posts.

“It was an amazing day celebrating our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas from my family to yours,” Justin Gaethje stated in a post with a photo of him spending some quality time with his family. So, besides never disappointing when it comes to his fights inside the octagon, and being almost everyone’s favorite fighter’s favorite fighter, ‘The Highlight’ is a pretty spiritual person as well.

Meanwhile, the question heading into this weekend is: will Justin Gaethje be able to reclaim the UFC lightweight interim title for a second time at UFC 324, or will Paddy Pimblett seize his opportunity? Let us know in the comments section below.