Justin Gaethje feels the only fight that makes sense for him right now is against Conor McGregor, based on the current rankings.
The current UFC lightweight rankings has Conor McGregor situated at the number three spot, despite a two-year inactivity and a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov last October. This has irked other 155-pound contenders like Justin Gaethje, who is calling for the UFC to take “The Notorious” out of the rankings.
“He’s No. 3. If he’s not going to fight, take him out of the rankings,” Gaethje told ESPN.com. “I’d be cool with that, too, and we can move on from there.”
But if the UFC chooses to keep McGregor ranked, Gaethje is volunteering himself as a viable opponent.
“I don’t know, but as far as I’m concerned, he’s in the rankings so he should be available. I’m just sitting in my house in Colorado,” he said. “I have no idea what the hell is going on with him. But he’s No. 3. He’s the only guy ranked ahead of me that doesn’t have a fight. He needs a fight to get back to the title shot. That’s me.
“I don’t know what else to say about it. Unless he just does not want to fight me, if he wants to be that picky about it,” Gaethje continued. “I can’t control that. I’ll worry about things I can control.
“But I would definitely love to f—k him up. Every time I get a chance to f—k someone up who talks a lot of sh-t, it makes it more fun for me.”
Currently ranked number five, Gaethje is on a two-fight win streak, with his latest victory being against Edson Barboza in March. He won via first-round knockout and took home an extra $50,000 for Fight of the Night honors.