If he wins over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 218, Justin Gaethje would prefer to fight interim champion Tony Ferguson over current titleholder Conor McGregor.
Justin Gaethje made a strong impression in his UFC debut last July by stopping Michael Johnson in the second round. This weekend, he will face former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez at UFC 218.
A win for Gaethje would open up better opportunities for him in the lightweight division. And with the lingering uncertainty with Conor McGregor, the former WSOF champion is more focused on the possibility of facing interim champion, Tony Ferguson.
“I honestly don’t give a shit (about McGregor’s plans), because it does not matter,” Gaethje told MMAjunkie. “If I don’t win this fight, I’m not even in that picture. So I’m focusing on Eddie.”
“Can’t hate on Conor for making a shit ton of money. Don’t hate him at all. So if I finish Eddie, I definitely want to fight Tony.”
But even with his future plans in place, Gaethje is not looking past the task at hand, and promises an entertaining fight, no matter what.
“He’s talking a big game, but I still think he’s going to try and stick me against the fence and hold me there,” Gaethje said. “I’m a Division I wrestler, so I’ve got to focus on keeping him off me and landing hard punches and kicks, making him quit. I don’t know how many times he’s been finished, but I’m shooting to finish him, that’s for sure.”
“I would rather lose than not get a finish I don’t want to win a boring decision,” he added. “That’s the last thing I want. It’s impossible. It’s either I get finished, or he gets finished. That’s how I fight. It’s life or death.”
UFC 218 takes place this Saturday, December 2nd, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.