Gaethje defends personal attack against McGregor: He is setting a bad example

Photo by Drew Hallowell/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC

“Fuck off. Your kid is supposed to want to grow up to be like you. When you treat people the way he does that is setting a bad example. How hard is this?”

Justin Gaethje went straight for the jugular in a recent tweet targeted at Conor McGregor, but the former WSOF lightweight champion’s comments didn’t go down too well with everyone.

One fan felt Gaethje’s tweet was a little too personal, but ‘The Highlight’ absolutely stands by his comments, claiming that McGregor, who is currently embroiled in controversy over allegedly attacking a man at a pub in Ireland, is setting a bad example for his children.

“Fuck off. Your kid is supposed to want to grow up to be like you. When you treat people the way he does that is setting a bad example. How hard is this?” Gaethje posted in response to a disgruntled fan.

Gaethje’s original tweet came in response to McGregor calling for a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov, after ‘The Eagle’s’ submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 242. McGregor had previously flirted with the idea of a lightweight bout with Gaethje but the Irishman appears to have changed his tune in light of Khabib’s latest win. Nurmagomedov, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, submitted McGregor in one of the biggest PPV events in the promotion’s history at UFC 229, becoming an overnight global superstar and solidifying his position as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.

UFC president Dana White has stated that McGregor could get the next title shot if former interim champ Tony Ferguson ‘can’t take the fight or doesn’t want to fight at that time’.

Gaethje, who is riding a two-fight KO streak over James Vick and Edson Barboza, is set to return to the Octagon against Donald Cerrone at UFC on ESPN+16 on Sept. 14.