Justin Gaethje disclosed on the Joe Rogan Podcast that he never drinks water during training sessions, including intense conditioning work, saying he drinks only before and after workouts. His trainer Trevor Wittman confirmed the habit, recalling that he did not give Gaethje water across all five rounds of his fight against Tony Ferguson. Wittman also expressed concern about weight cuts and dehydration, noting the risks they pose to fighters during hard bouts.
Justin Gaethje revealed an unusual training habit during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Podcast, disclosing that he never drinks water during workout sessions — not even through grueling conditioning work — and instead hydrates only before and after training.
The lightweight champion, who holds a 28-5-0 record at 37 years old, made the admission in a candid conversation that shed light on how he manages his body ahead of fights. Gaethje, standing five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach and training out of Genesis Training Center, is one of the most active strikers in the 155-pound division, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate.
His longtime trainer Trevor Wittman backed up the claim, recalling that he withheld water from Gaethje across all five rounds of his bout against Tony Ferguson. Wittman also used the moment to raise broader concerns about weight cuts and dehydration in combat sports, pointing to the dangers they create for fighters during hard bouts.
Ferguson, the 42-year-old American known as El Cucuy, carries a 26-11-0 record and himself has a reputation for durability and high-volume output, averaging 4.91 significant strikes landed per minute and 0.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes — making his fight with Gaethje a notably punishing affair for both men.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's no-water habit during training is an unconventional approach that even his own trainer has publicly flagged as a concern alongside weight-cut risks.
- Wittman's comments highlight ongoing tensions around fighter health and hydration protocols at the sport's highest levels.
- The disclosure adds context to how one of the lightweight division's most aggressive fighters — averaging nearly 6.5 significant strikes per minute — prepares his body to absorb and deliver sustained punishment.
