Gaethje Wants McGregor Clash
Justin Gaethje targets Conor McGregor for his first lightweight title defense.
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Key Points
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McGregor's comeback at UFC 329 against Max Holloway lasted just 69 seconds before a right leg injury, later described as an ACL injury requiring surgery.
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McGregor has publicly vowed to have his last UFC fight in 2027, extending the window for a Gaethje–McGregor showdown.
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Gaethje turns 38 in November, underscoring the aging champion timeline and the urgency around his lightweight reign.
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Gaethje has losses to Holloway and Oliveira, which complicate rematches and contribute to his focus on facing McGregor rather than avenging those defeats.
UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje plans to defend his title against Conor McGregor rather than face former rivals Max Holloway or Charles Oliveira. Yahoo Sports reported that Gaethje views McGregor as the bigger draw and believes Ilia Topuria's dominance over Holloway and Oliveira makes those rematches unnecessary. However, both fighters are sidelined by injury, pushing any potential clash to 2027 at the earliest.
McGregor suffered a severe right leg injury during his UFC 329 comeback against Holloway, lasting just 69 seconds. Reuters reported that McGregor vowed to fight again in 2027, while Gaethje, turning 38 in November, faces his own recovery from hand injuries sustained during his title win.
McGregor's Quick Comeback Ends in Serious Injury
McGregor's return to the UFC cage lasted just 69 seconds before disaster struck. According to Reuters, the Irishman suffered a right leg injury fighting Holloway at UFC 329 that doctors later confirmed as an ACL tear requiring surgery. This marked his first fight since defeating Donald Cerrone in January 2020, a four-year absence from competition.
Gaethje's Logic for Skipping Rematches
Gaethje holds losses to both Holloway and Oliveira, rivals he could face again. But Yahoo Sports notes that the champion argues Topuria's victories over both men make those rematches irrelevant. "Topuria beat them," Gaethje reasoned, viewing McGregor instead as a marquee opponent worth waiting for despite having no recent wins to his name.
2027 Earliest for a Title Clash to Materialize
Both fighters face extended recovery timelines. McGregor publicly vowed to return in 2027 following his ACL surgery, Reuters confirmed. Gaethje is healing from hand injuries he incurred beating Topuria in June. The champion, now 37 years old and turning 38 in November, acknowledged uncertainty about his future. "I plan to take things one fight at a time," ibtimes.com.au reported him saying.
The McGregor Factor in Lightweight Division Narrative
McGregor's star power drives Gaethje's preference. The former two-division champion, despite his long absence, remains one of the UFC's biggest draws. mmasucka.com reported that multiple outlets have echoed Gaethje's interest in this future matchup. A Gaethje-McGregor bout could reshape the lightweight division's storyline once both competitors recover from their respective injuries.
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