Conor McGregor calls Justin Gaethje a ‘f*cking bum’: Max Holloway put you ‘face down, ass up’

Conor McGregor has dismissed Justin Gaethje's callout with characteristic bluntness, mocking the newly crowned undisputed lightweight champion by referencing his recent loss to Max Holloway. McGregor is preparing to face Holloway in a rematch at UFC 329 on Saturday, and while Gaethje—fresh off finishing Ilia Topuria at UFC White House—has expressed interest in punching McGregor in the face, the Irish fighter isn't entertaining the notion.

"Join the queue," McGregor said at UFC 329 media day, before launching into his critique of Gaethje. "Holloway put him face down, ass up at UFC 300, though. Badly. Badly face down." McGregor added that he's "not even thinking of it at this time" and questioned whether he'd drop back to lightweight again, noting his ambitions to capture a "triple crown"—a third title to accompany the lightweight and featherweight belts he previously held.

McGregor returns to competition after a five-year absence, having last fought in 2021 when he suffered a broken leg. The comeback represents a significant challenge given the layoff and his injury history, but McGregor appears unfazed. He acknowledged the doubters and the legitimate questions surrounding his condition and lifestyle, but framed skepticism as motivation.

"Nothing better than proving people wrong," McGregor said, projecting confidence ahead of Saturday. "We're going to go in Saturday night and shut them all up again. The business is on the rise. The money is coming in." At his peak a decade ago, McGregor became the UFC's first simultaneous two-division champion and reshaped the sport's landscape. Now, he's signaling his intent to do so again, speaking of "shaking up the game" and proving to himself that "I am who I say I am."