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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 13: Justin Gaethje lays on the canvas in the BMF championship fight during the UFC 300 event at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Justin Gaethje became the first UFC fighter to defeat former two-division champion Ilia Topuria, stopping “El Matador” in the UFC White House main event earlier this month in Washington, DC, in the most-watched UFC event of all time.
Conor McGregor, who is 1-3 in Gaethje’s division (getting stopped in all three losses), remains unimpressed.
While the UFC 329 headliner credited Gaethje for being “durable” and “unorthodox,” he downplayed “The Highlight’s” place among the lightweight greats after getting “flatlined” by former featherweight champion Max Holloway at UFC 300 back in early 2024.
“Justin’s okay,” McGregor recently told UFC on Paramount (transcribed by MMA Fighting). “When he’s on, Justin’s okay. When he’s bad, he’s atrocious. He’s woeful. He slaps his punches a lot. But he’s very, very durable and he’s unorthodox in his style. Max has flatlined Justin. He knocked him out. Face down. Out cold.”
McGregor, who turns 38 in roughly two weeks, defeated Holloway by decision at UFC Fight Night 26.
“I already held the 155-pound unified UFC world title,” McGregor added. “I’m open for business. I wish for activity. I’ve got a great fight in front of me. I want the smoke. I want all the smoke. For sure. Bring it all on. I don’t rate them. Not on my level. Rather than saying it, I would rather just show. That I will do.”
He’ll get his chance on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
McGregor (22-6) and Gaethje (28-5) have yet to cross paths over the years, primarily due to the Irishman’s repeated layoffs, but certainly remained on each other’s radar. Whether or not they finally slug it out inside the Octagon could depend on how well “Notorious” performs at UFC 329.
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