Is Justin Gaethje Mexican? UFC Star’s Ethnicity, German Roots & More

With the popularity and global reach of the UFC, the sport has become the epicentre of all things mixed martial arts. This global identity has attracted the cream of the crop when it comes to fighters and, that too, from every corner of the globe. The upcoming card for UFC 313 is a diverse one, to say the least, with lightweight star Justin Gaethje set to feature on the PPV as well.

The former BMF champion has rightfully earned the label for being the most violent fighter to ever grace the Octagon. Heading into the rematch against Rafael Fiziev, who stepped up as the replacement for Dan Hooker on short notice, he’d be hoping to turn things around with a kind of performance fans know him from. But before we get to his first 2025 fight, let’s take a history lesson and learn more about ‘The Highlight’.

Where is Justin Gaethje from?

Well, Justin Gaethje belongs from the city of Tucson in Arizona, known for its culture and food. However, he did most of his growing up in Safford, 131 miles away from his birthplace. Hence, Gaethje’s an American national. However, the UFC lightweight superstar, unlike what most people believe, is actually 60% Mexican. Gaethje confirmed this during an interview.

“I am a 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,” Gaethje stated during a past interview. “I was born in Tucson, Arizona, and I was raised in like, probably a couple hours north of the border, small town. You’ve seen me fight, haven’t you? That’s all you need to see.” But that’s not all!

Justin Gaethje also has a bit of German in him, acquired by him through his father. It’s pretty multicultural in the Gaethje household, to say the least. Now that we’ve established where he’s from, let’s take a look at the religion that Justin Gaethje practices. Here’s what we know.

Which religion does Justin Gaethje follow?

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 get back to his winning ways at UFC 313? Or will Rafael Fiziev get his revenge over the fan favorite? Let us know in the comments section below.