Khabib Nurmagomedov Made Me Tap 3 Times and Black Out | Joe Rogan & Justin Gaethje #bestofjre

JRE MMA Show #181 - Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman Justin Gaethje just admitted something terrifying on camera: he tapped three times against Khabib Nurmagomedov — and the referee still didn't believe him. In this raw conversation, Gaethje breaks down the exact moment of the Justin Gaethje Khabib choke, explaining how he physically went unconscious mid-fight and only realized it after the bout was over. He and coach Trevor Wittman also dig into a separate referee controversy from his fight with Michael Chandler, where a brutal eye poke went unanswered. Gaethje gets brutally honest about what it actually feels like to know you're losing consciousness in real time, and why he's at peace with it as long as he wakes up. The conversation shifts into the price his body pays for fighting at the highest level — a severe bone bruise in his fibula since Christmas — and the recovery grind of stem cells, PRP, and cortisone shots. They also compare his old-school "throw him in the dirt" mentality to the high-tech recovery world of fighters like Ilya Topuria. This is the real story behind the Justin Gaethje Khabib choke, told in his own words — accountability, mental toughness, and why he refuses to make excuses, even when he should be dead. If you love raw, unfiltered MMA conversations like this, subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss a clip. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS BELOW 0:00 — Referee fails to protect him after an eye poke 0:47 — Naming the referee who let Chandler land a free shot 1:43 — The right way to check on a fighter who got poked 2:39 — Confronting the ref right after the round ends 3:04 — Bringing up the Khabib fight referee 3:29 — "I tapped three times... and went to sleep" 4:16 — "As long as I don't die, I'm good" 5:13 — Why people assume he can't be smart 10:29 — You can't understand the danger unless you live it 11:08 — The bone bruise diagnosis from Christmas day 13:25 — 420 dab vs Topuria's high-tech recovery gear 14:13 — Wrestling as the root of his mental toughness 15:42 — Accountability, parents, and why he reads every comment