The formula has worked, and it has Gaethje on the cusp of undisputed gold. Wittman said seeing Gaethje raise the belt won’t mean much more to him because he is always happy watching his pupil win any fight, but he did go on to say he knows that level of success won’t negatively change who Gaethje is at his core.
“Justin knows everybody by name,” Wittman said. “He very rarely says, ‘No.’ When we were training in a bigger gym instead of a private gym, people ask him, ‘Hey, can you come over to dinner tonight? I got family in town. My uncle is in town. They’d love to meet you, Justin,’ and he’s like, ‘Yeah, what time do you want me to be there?’ He’s that type of guy. It doesn’t come from a ranking of going, ‘No, you’re giving me great sparring, and I owe you.’ He’s one of those guys – he’s raised in a small family in a small town, and when people are getting together, everybody gets together, and he is like that. If you need help moving, he’s going to come help you move and doesn’t want nothing in return. He’s that type of guy. That guy will do anything for you.”
It’s a little different for Gaethje, though. He cares, not only about proving that he’s the best in the world, but that Wittman earns his flowers as well. In an unforgettable clip, Gaethje was moved to tears when Namajunas defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk to earn the strawweight title the first time.
A lot of those joyful tears were shed for Namajunas, but they were also for Wittman and the work they all do in the gym on a daily basis, and Gaethje is more than optimistic he’ll replicate that achievement for himself sooner than later together with Wittman. He can almost certainly cement himself back in the title picture at UFC 268 when he faces Michael Chandler in what should be an all-action fight. He is also the first of three athletes whom Wittman will corner in Madison Square Garden along with Rose Namajunas and Kamaru Usman.
“Trevor has been on this ride with me,” Gaethje said. “Ultimately, all of us want to do is be recognized as the best in the world. I’ve been very close. I’m close right now, so it’ll be a surreal feeling once I finally accomplish that goal.”