Could a lightweight firefight between Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor go down later this year?
Despite being out of action for over a year, thanks in part to his suspension following UFC 229, Conor McGregor’s name has constantly been in the news. It helps, of course, when you have a large social media following and your own media outlet always willing to put your name out there. The end result, any number of coy references to taking fights after big performances by fellow lightweights and even welterweights.
Constantly in the news cycle. Yet no fights materialized until McGregor’s upcoming main event against Cowboy Cerrone at UFC 246 was made official.
So take it with a grain of salt, but McGregor has told The Maclife that Justin Gaethje is “on the list.” Maybe even next, after his return fight against Donald Cerrone.
Gaethje has flip-flopped between considering McGregor retired to calling for a fight with the former double-champ over the past year. Yet he’s the one name that, until now, McGregor has been mostly silent about.
“He is on the list,” McGregor told TheMacLife.com (h/t MMA Junkie). “Maybe I will face him next. Maybe I’ll face him next. He has it coming to him. I laugh at how Justin has … he’s a funny guy.
“He’s been taking it very to heart. I know the feeling when you do that. Maybe I’ll get through Donald and I’ll have a quick turnaround against Justin. Maybe that’s what will happen. But Justin is on the list, no doubt.”
Gaethje has been a man without a plan as of late. He’s firmly against taking short-notice fights, and suggested the UFC pay him for a full camp should he be enlisted as a back-up for Khabib vs. Ferguson at UFC 249. He’s been accused, of late, by Dana White of turning down fights, a statement Gaethje responded to recently.
If McGregor does get past Cerrone, a fight with Gaethje would be nothing short of electric. ‘The Highlight’ has become known as one of the most violent men in MMA, a sure-fire bonus winner who always entertains, win or lose. The fight sounds reminiscent of McGregor vs. Alvarez, the Irish star’s last win in the octagon, which saw him capture the lightweight title prior to taking a hiatus from MMA to pursue a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather.
Of course, this talk could just be part of the promotional game ahead of UFC 246. Time will tell. And Dana White seems to think McGregor deserves a title shot in a rematch against Khabib, should he come out victorious against Cowboy.
In the meantime, the UFC has also released unseen footage from McGregor’s record-setting knockout of Jose Aldo, which you can see below.
The angle you've never seen before 👀
Follow @TheNotoriousMMA into the Octagon as he made history 🇮🇪 #UFC246 pic.twitter.com/tWqLXjqp9i
— UFC (@ufc) January 3, 2020
