Justin Gaethje wants Conor McGregor next: ‘Fun to shut him up’

Justin Gaethje has made clear his preferred next opponent: Conor McGregor. The UFC lightweight champion, who won the title by defeating Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250, explained in a recent interview that while rematches against Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira were once logical options, those fighters no longer interest him.

Gaethje had previously lost to both men in title bouts. Holloway stopped him with a buzzer-beater knockout at UFC 300 to claim the BMF title, while Oliveira submitted him in a second attempt at undisputed lightweight gold. However, since Topuria has now defeated both fighters, Gaethje reasoned he can consider those scores settled by proxy.

"Damn, there's really no one," Gaethje said. "It would have been Oliveira or Holloway, but since Topuria beat them, I'm going to go ahead and justify it to myself like I got them back. So, I guess McGregor. Fun to shut him up."

McGregor, a former two-division champion, returned to action after a five-year absence to face Holloway at UFC 329 but the bout ended in under a minute when a knee injury forced a referee stoppage. With one fight remaining on his contract, McGregor is targeting a summer 2027 return—timing that could align with Gaethje's pursuit.