Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Gaethje is confident his first title defense will be against Conor McGregor, should Gaethje dethrone reigning champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Justin Gaethje has had his eye on Conor McGregor for a long time, and now his Spidey-senses are tingling.
Interim UFC lightweight champion Gaethje (20-2) recently joined ESPN’s Now or Never. Asked about McGregor’s latest retirement, “The Highlight” expects it to be short-lived.
“[Conor McGregor] should wait for the winner of me and Khabib. If I win, I think he definitely comes back. If Khabib wins, I don’t know; I’m not sure about that.”@Justin_Gaethje “can’t wait” to punch “legend” McGregor in the face if he does come back. (via @noworneverespn) pic.twitter.com/roltSEwCmy
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 16, 2020
“[Conor McGregor] should wait for the winner of me and Khabib,” Gaethje told ESPN. “If I win, I think he definitely comes back. If Khabib wins, I don’t know; I’m not sure about that.”
The former is something Gaethje deeply craves. The all-action fighter expressed how he “can’t wait” to punch McGregor in the face.
Gaethje is coming off a spectacular, dominant performance against Tony Ferguson at UFC 249, stopping “El Cucuy” in the final round to win that interim belt. He is expected to fight Nurmagomedov in a highly anticipated UFC lightweight title unification about in September. The matchup will likely headline a pay-per-view event on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
As for McGregor, he has “retired” twice before only to return shortly thereafter, so we’ll see if he means it on the third announcement. His most recent outing saw him win by knockout against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in January.