Justin Gaethje , a fearless UFC star, recently shared a surprising story about the opponent who truly scared him during his thrilling career in the lightweight division. In a heartfelt moment, he revealed that Brazilian knockout king Edson Barboza , not any other big name, left him shaken before their fight. This honest confession shows that even tough fighters feel fear. Gaethje's story grabs fans' attention, proving his journey is as human as it is exciting.
Edson Barboza- the one who gave Justin Gaethje chillsBefore becoming a UFC star, Gaethje watched fights as a fan, amazed by Edson Barboza’s powerful leg kicks and body shots that knocked out strong opponents in seconds. Those moments stuck with him as he climbed the ranks, making him nervous about facing the Brazilian’s dangerous striking skills in the octagon someday.
The thought of Barboza’s unpredictable attacks, which could end fights quickly, stayed in Gaethje’s mind during his early career days. This fear wasn’t just about Barboza’s knockouts but how his kicks made every moment in the cage feel risky.
Years before joining the UFC, Gaethje told friends during a poker game he’d fight Barboza one day, but they laughed, thinking he was joking about facing such a tough striker. When the fight finally happened, that memory of doubt made Gaethje feel extra pressure to prove himself against a fighter he respected and feared. Turning that nervous energy into focus helped him prepare to face Barboza’s scary kicks with a smart game plan in the cage.
Also Read: Who is Justin Gaethje's girlfriend Sophia Romano? Everything to know about the model and influencer
Justin Gaethje opens up about his fearIn a simple social media video, Gaethje shared why Barboza was the scariest opponent he ever faced, even compared to other tough fighters in his long career.
“I would say Edson Barboza (made me the most afraid),” Gaethje admitted in a video on his social media. “When I was a kid, I was just a fan of the sport, you'd see people get put to sleep, I've seen him do it multiple times, it's hard not to have those thoughts in the back of your mind. You know, his leg kicks, his body kicks, I remember telling my friends when I was playing poker with them that I was gonna fight him one day before I was in the UFC and they told me I was full of s—. And then I was fighting him and I was like, here we go. Yeah, when I fought Edson Barboza I was a little bit scared.”
This honest moment touched fans, showing that even brave fighters feel scared sometimes. By sharing this, Gaethje inspired others to face their fears with courage.
Beating fear with a quick knockoutWhen Gaethje finally faced Barboza at UFC Fight Night in Phoenix in 2018, he turned his fear into action with an unforgettable performance in the octagon. Despite feeling nervous, he charged forward, throwing hard punches to stop Barboza’s kicks from taking control of the fight early on.
Just over two minutes into the first round, Gaethje landed a huge right hook, knocking Barboza out cold and proving he could overcome his biggest fears. This win boosted his career, leading to bigger fights and showing fans his heart and power.
Now, as Gaethje looks toward future fights, like a possible title shot against Ilia Topuria, his story of facing Barboza reminds fans of his grit and growth. By beating the fighter who scared him most, Gaethje showed he can turn fear into victory. Fans can’t wait to see what this tough and honest fighter does next in the UFC.
Edson Barboza- the one who gave Justin Gaethje chillsBefore becoming a UFC star, Gaethje watched fights as a fan, amazed by Edson Barboza’s powerful leg kicks and body shots that knocked out strong opponents in seconds. Those moments stuck with him as he climbed the ranks, making him nervous about facing the Brazilian’s dangerous striking skills in the octagon someday.
Why Edson Barboza was the scariest fighter I’ve faced… pic.twitter.com/BfPWChPv1K
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) October 17, 2025
The thought of Barboza’s unpredictable attacks, which could end fights quickly, stayed in Gaethje’s mind during his early career days. This fear wasn’t just about Barboza’s knockouts but how his kicks made every moment in the cage feel risky.
Years before joining the UFC, Gaethje told friends during a poker game he’d fight Barboza one day, but they laughed, thinking he was joking about facing such a tough striker. When the fight finally happened, that memory of doubt made Gaethje feel extra pressure to prove himself against a fighter he respected and feared. Turning that nervous energy into focus helped him prepare to face Barboza’s scary kicks with a smart game plan in the cage.
Also Read: Who is Justin Gaethje's girlfriend Sophia Romano? Everything to know about the model and influencer
Justin Gaethje opens up about his fearIn a simple social media video, Gaethje shared why Barboza was the scariest opponent he ever faced, even compared to other tough fighters in his long career.
“I would say Edson Barboza (made me the most afraid),” Gaethje admitted in a video on his social media. “When I was a kid, I was just a fan of the sport, you'd see people get put to sleep, I've seen him do it multiple times, it's hard not to have those thoughts in the back of your mind. You know, his leg kicks, his body kicks, I remember telling my friends when I was playing poker with them that I was gonna fight him one day before I was in the UFC and they told me I was full of s—. And then I was fighting him and I was like, here we go. Yeah, when I fought Edson Barboza I was a little bit scared.”
This honest moment touched fans, showing that even brave fighters feel scared sometimes. By sharing this, Gaethje inspired others to face their fears with courage.
Beating fear with a quick knockoutWhen Gaethje finally faced Barboza at UFC Fight Night in Phoenix in 2018, he turned his fear into action with an unforgettable performance in the octagon. Despite feeling nervous, he charged forward, throwing hard punches to stop Barboza’s kicks from taking control of the fight early on.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNgyiikpw8T/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNgyiikpw8T/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Just over two minutes into the first round, Gaethje landed a huge right hook, knocking Barboza out cold and proving he could overcome his biggest fears. This win boosted his career, leading to bigger fights and showing fans his heart and power.
Now, as Gaethje looks toward future fights, like a possible title shot against Ilia Topuria, his story of facing Barboza reminds fans of his grit and growth. By beating the fighter who scared him most, Gaethje showed he can turn fear into victory. Fans can’t wait to see what this tough and honest fighter does next in the UFC.
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