UFC champion Justin Gaethje recounts financial struggles early in his professional career

UFC lightweight titleholder Justin Gaethje detailed his early financial instability during a recent interview with Demetrious Johnson. Early in his career, an administrative payment error led to his bank account being frozen while he was in New York City with his family, leaving him without funds. Gaethje noted that he frequently spent his early paychecks on food until he matured as an athlete. He attributed his past financial cycles to a misunderstanding of his actual earnings at the time. Currently, Gaethje states that he has not yet touched the paycheck from his title-winning effort against Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250. His account of these early struggles highlights his transition from a struggling fighter to one of the sport's most successful athletes.

• 3:16 AMYahoo Sports — Justin Gaethje went from 80 cents to not touching his UFC title paycheck
• 3:16 AMSherdog — Justin Gaethje went from 80 cents to not touching his UFC title paycheck