Justin Gaethje says he respects Conor McGregor’s skills but admits he reveled in his defeat to Dustin Poirier.
McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) suffered a second-round TKO loss to Poirier in the UFC 257 main event, putting an interesting twist to the promotion’s lightweight title picture.
Gaethje (22-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC), who’s campaigned to face McGregor in the past, couldn’t help but enjoy seeing McGregor go down, and he didn’t hold back on his feelings towards “The Notorious” when addressing the outcome and McGregor’s subsequent call for an immediate trilogy fight with Poirier.
“I think he’s an elite fighter,” Gaethje recently told ESPN. “What do they got him ranked at, 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 shot next, a rematch versus Poirier, and his coach, they are (expletive) idiots. He’s been treated special over and over and over, and he didn’t capitalize on this opportunity. That event was for him. That event was for him to win, and he wants to be Mr. Humble now, but you know he would be an (expletive) if he won that fight.
“So I don’t feel bad for him. I’m happy for Poirier. I’m happy Poirier went out there and did his job and finished him. I love seeing a loudmouth get knocked out. There is nothing that makes me happier. Seeing a piece of (expletive) get put down, that was great. I loved it.”
According to SBG Ireland head John Kavanagh, McGregor has expressed his desire to complete the trilogy with Poirier, and it appears that Poirier reciprocates those same sentiments.
But if the UFC does indeed go in that direction, Gaethje says he would be absolutely outraged.
“I would think about never fighting in the UFC if he fights for a title again,” Gaethje said. “That would be preposterous. For one, he’s sitting at No. 6, he’s won one fight in his entire life in the lightweight division, and he picks and chooses who he fights. So I have no respect for him in that manner.”
Gaethje said he is interested in fighting McGregor at some point but isn’t sure that should be his next booking. With Michael Chandler making a splash in his UFC debut, the streaking Charles Oliveira in the title picture, and Poirier sitting at the top of the rankings, Gaethje is excited at the division’s future as he maps out his climb for an opportunity to avenge his loss to “The Diamond.”
“It was an awesome weekend for us lightweights,” Gaethje said. “It really shook up the division. It’s really going to make the UFC, the matchmakers come together and come up with some ideas. There’s a lot of options – I saw they moved Dustin ahead of me in the rankings, deservedly so. He’s one, I’m two, Charles is three, Chandler’s four. No matter what, I’ve got to get my revenge on Poirier, so I’m going to make it there no matter how I’ve got to get there.”
