Justin Gaethje says he respects Conor McGregor’s skills, but admits he enjoyed his defeat against Dustin Poirier.
McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) suffered a second-round TKO loss to Poirier in the UFC 257 main event, which gave an interesting twist to the title image of the promotion.
Gaethje (22-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC), who has campaigned to face McGregor in the past, couldn’t help but see McGregor go down and not hold back on his feelings for “The Notorious “when the result was directed and McGregor ‘s subsequent call for an immediate fight for the trilogy with Poirier.
“I think he’s an elite fighter,” Gaethje told ESPN recently. “In what did they classify him, six? I think he should be ahead of Tony (Ferguson) in the rankings. But for him to come out and say he wants a title, a rematch against Poirier, and his coach, they are idiots (explosives). He has been treated in a special way over and over again and has not taken advantage of this opportunity. That event was for him. That event was for him to win, and now he wants to be Mr. Humble, but you know he would be a (explosive) one if he won that fight.
“So I don’t feel bad for him. I am happy for Poirier. I’m glad Poirier did his job there and finished it. I love watching a loud voice drop. There is nothing that makes me happier. Seeing how a (explosive) piece was put together was fantastic. I loved it “.
According to the head of SBG Ireland, John Kavanagh, McGregor has expressed his desire to complete the trilogy with Poirier and it seems that Poirier corresponds to the same feelings.
But if the UFC does go in that direction, Gaethje says he would be absolutely outraged.
“I would think about never fighting in the UFC if I fight for a title again,” Gaethje said. “It would be absurd. On the one hand, he is sitting at number 6, has won a lifelong fight in the light division and chooses and chooses who to fight with. So I have no respect for him that way. “
Gaethje said he is interested in fighting McGregor at some point, but is not sure it will be his next booking. With Michael Chandler making his UFC debut, with Charles Oliveira in the title picture and Poirier sitting at the top of the standings, Gaethje is excited about the future of the division as he plans his promotion to have a chance to avenge his loss to “The Diamond.”
“It was an amazing weekend for lightweights,” Gaethje said. “It simply came to our notice then. It will really make the UFC, the matchmakers come together and have some ideas. There are many options: I saw Dustin advance ahead of me in the standings, deservedly. He’s one, I’m two, Charles has three, Chandler has four. Whatever happens, I have to take revenge on Poirier, so I’ll get there no matter how I get there. “