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For the past several months, Conor McGregor has been honey-dicking half the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster across three weight divisions, teasing potential fights on social media and in interviews that never go anywhere. One of the latest recipients of such treatment, Justin Gaethje, was named in McGregor’s recent lengthy ESPN interview as the prime candidate for his next fight.
That was news to Gaethje, who took the opportunity to make things personal by trash-talking McGregor to TMZ Sports. Maybe it was in the hopes of getting a response out of McGregor, or maybe it was just how he really felt. Either way, not much came of it ... although the consensus opinion among fans was that the winner of the upcoming Justin Gaethje vs. Donald Cerrone fight on Sept. 14, 2019, would probably get “Notorious” next (if not a title shot).
Unfortunately, that may no longer be the case. After UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, UFC President Dana White said that if he can’t make a fight between Lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson happen, McGregor would make sense as the next opponent for the Dagestani champion. Well, it certainly makes dollars if it doesn’t make sense.
Obviously unimpressed is Gaethje, who’s getting his first proper taste of the ole’ McGregor title shot line jump. His reaction is appropriately foul-mouthed:
you’re a tool. You have lost everything already. You are a shit human, father, and husband. Fuck you.
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) September 8, 2019
Yep, that’s the sound of a man who realized a win next week in Vancouver no longer guarantees him anything. Not a title shot. Not a fight with McGregor. Nothing but his contracted fee and the satisfaction of another “W” on his record. Being a Lightweight sucks sometimes.