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Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor is expected to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon this January. At least that’s what “Notorious” thinks.
With McGregor’s comeback in the works fight fans are already scrambling to figure out who the Irishman could face next. Considering UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has an undetermined date with No. 1 contender Tony Ferguson, and McGregor’s former rival, Nate Diaz, has an ongoing battle with USADA and still-scheduled fight with Jorge Masvidal at UFC 224, the list of opponents are truly limited for McGregor’s return.
Heck, the Irishman even tried to land a bout with current bantamweight Frankie Edgar for free.
With so much in play in the UFC’s lightweight division the only two real options for McGregor would be either Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone or the red-hot Justin Gaethje. While Gaethje would have been an excellent choice for McGregor to return to action and prove he’s ready for a title rematch at 155 pounds, all signs point to “Notorious” finally locking horns with “Cowboy.”
Those fight rumors obviously haven’t sat well with Gaethje, who has been lobbying for a fight with McGregor for quite some time. The two were even expected to meet inside of the Octagon this past July before an injured hand knocked McGregor out of commission.
Here is what Gaethje had to say about McGregor’s potential return to action this January against Cerrone:
First a bantamweight now the man I defeated last. I can fight in January @TheNotoriousMMA Let’s show the world the little coward you are. I won’t take your neck when you give it to me and the fetal position is not an option.
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) October 24, 2019
First a bantamweight now the man I defeated last,” wrote Gaethje via Twitter. “I can fight in January @TheNotoriousMMA Let’s show the world the little coward you are. I won’t take your neck when you give it to me and the fetal position is not an option.”
If McGregor does return this January to fight “Cowboy” then Gaethje’s going to have a tough time finding a legitimate opponent at 155 pounds. After all, “Highlight” has won his last three bouts via first-round knockout over the likes of Cerrone, Edson Barboza, and James Vick. Well deserving of a title shot after Ferguson gets his own crack at Khabib, Gaethje may be better off sitting out until the right opportunity comes along.
Fight fans should expect an announcement from UFC and McGregor in the coming weeks regarding the next official opponent for “Notorious.”