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Justin Gaethje isn’t the biggest fan of Conor McGregor at the moment.

Top UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje has said he wasn’t aware that Conor McGregor was in talks to fight him this July before the Irishman broke his hand.

McGregor revealed he was “leaning towards a fight with Gaethje” when he spoke with ESPN earlier this month. In the interview, the former two-weight world champion also addressed an incident in which he struck a man at a pub in Ireland back in April, something Gaethje said he wants to “punch” McGregor for.

”That was the first time I heard that,” Gaethje said of the proposed fight with McGregor. “I was training for a fight, he broke his hand early. So I think even before it would have gotten to me he broke his hand and it didn’t come together. But yeah, it makes me happy. Cowboy’s number 4 and he’s number 3 so after I get through Cowboy it’s onto the next, and that’s him.” (Transcription via MMA Mania)

”He hasn’t fought in two and a half years, but he just has to fight and we’re talking about it. He brings the most attention, he’s the biggest superstar in this sport, he’s not even fighting and he’s still the biggest superstar. So of course I want to f—k him up. I see him punch an old man, do I want to punch him for that? F—k yeah, I want to f—k that dude up for s—t like that. He looks like a crackhead on your video.”

Gaethje is currently booked to fight Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 16 in September. Despite this, Gaethje, who has earned performance bonuses in all of his UFC appearances, wants a shot at lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov after.

”I want the Russian right now,” Gaethje said, referencing current lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov. “I’ll go out there and show Conor how to fight that man. You get your ass whupped and then you say the man ran from you? He dropped you and he beat your ass and made you tap. He made you say uncle or nanny or sissy or whatever.”

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

“I don’t know if you saw the Instagram of her dancing out in front of her car. That’s awesome. Some people have that ‘it factor’ that you can’t teach people, and Paige has it.” —Dana White, shutting down haters back in 2015.

Paige VanZant is closing in on the final fight of her UFC contract, which is expected to lead to free agency later this year, or perhaps first quarter 2020. Not because the 25 year-old flyweight no longer wants to be a part of the promotion, but rather because “12 Gauge” believes she’s underpaid.

In fact, VanZant (8-4) recently told ESPN that she earns more money on Instagram than she does as a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, suggesting the promotion failed to capitalize on her mainstream appeal, which includes a run on Dancing With The Stars, as well as a sizzling spread in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

UFC President, Dana White, was either holding his tongue or completely unfazed.

“Good for her,” White chuckled during last night’s “Contender Series” media scrum (skip to 14:45 for the VanZant talk). “That’s awesome. Listen, if a fighter can make more money doing other things, good for her.”

UFC fighters can make more money doing other things, like fighting for Bellator MMA and ONE Championship. That’s according to White himself, who appears to have softened his stance on what former middleweight champion, Michael Bisping, refers to as “disgruntled” ex employees.

After all, in this sport you eat what you kill.

Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports

After retiring from MMA in 2017, “Rumble” plans to return to the Octagon early next year — but in a new weight class.

“Rumble” is planning to exit retirement early next year.

Anthony Johnson, a former UFC light heavyweight title challenger, is preparing to return to the UFC in March 2020, ESPN reported Tuesday. Johnson intends on competing at heavyweight.

Johnson plans to soon re-enter the USADA drug testing pool, according to the report. Any fighter who comes out of retirement must be subject to testing for six months before being eligible to return to action, per the UFC anti-doping program.

Johnson wants his first fight to be against a ranked opponent, such as former training partner Alistair Overeem or ex-heavyweight titleholder Junior dos Santos, per the report.

Johnson retired in April 2017 immediately after an unsuccessful title bid against Daniel Cormier at UFC 210. He has hinted at a comeback multiple times since then, but has not committed to one until now.

Johnson took up heavy weightlifting after his retirement and seemingly bulked up. That could be why he plans to fight in the heavyweight division as opposed to his former home of 205 pounds. Johnson, earlier in his MMA career, has fought as low as 170 pounds.

Johnson competed for the UFC light heavyweight title twice, both against Cormier. He first fought “DC” in May 2015 for the vacant belt, then again two years later. He lost both fights by submission. Known as one of the most ferocious punchers in the promotion, Johnson went 6-2 as a light heavyweight in the UFC.

Johnson has stayed somewhat busy in the world of combat sports since retiring from MMA competition. In July, Johnson faced Craig Jones in a grappling match at Submission Underground 9. He lost via heel hook 47 seconds into the match. Johnson also serves as an ambassador for Bare Knuckle FC.

Johnson, 35, has been involved in his fair share of controversy, as well. In May, he was arrested for an alleged domestic violence incident. He was charged with one count of battery/domestic battery.