Justin Gaethje prefers Conor McGregor fight over avenging losses: ‘Fun to shut him up’

Justin Gaethje, fresh off his upset victory over previously undefeated Ilia Topuria to capture the UFC lightweight title at White House, is in no rush to select his next opponent and has indicated a preference for fighting Conor McGregor over avenging either of his two previous losses.

In an interview with Paramount+, Gaethje was asked about potential rematches with Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, both of whom he lost to previously and who remain in title contention. Rather than pursue those fights, Gaethje dismissed the need for revenge, reasoning that since Topuria defeated both fighters, he can justify having beaten them transitively. Instead, he expressed interest in facing McGregor, saying it would be "fun to shut him up." McGregor suffered a serious knee injury just 19 seconds into his comeback fight against Holloway at UFC 329 in July.

Gaethje acknowledged the unusual position of being the hunted rather than the hunter after spending years chasing championship gold. He won the interim lightweight title twice and the "BMF" belt before finally capturing undisputed gold on his third attempt at a UFC title. Noting that top contenders like Arman Tsarukyan are engaged in fights that could determine his next opponent, Gaethje indicated he is letting circumstances unfold naturally.

His title defense won't occur until 2027 due to hand injuries sustained against Topuria, giving the lightweight landscape time to shift. Gaethje remained noncommittal about his long-term future, saying he has no firm timeline for retirement and continues to approach fighting one bout at a time while relying on his team and family for guidance on major career decisions.