UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje is on an impressive 3 fight run. After getting knocked out by Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier in back to back bouts he was ignited and iced James Vick, Edson Barboza, and Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in that order. The win over Cerrone has people starting to speculate who Gaethje’s next opponent will be and that is because former lightweight champion Conor McGregor just defeated Cowboy at UFC 246. That point has primarily been what people are basing a potential match-up for the two on.
Conor’s nemesis and current lightweight king, Khabib Nurmagomedov has a date with killer Tony Ferguson on April 18th of this year at UFC 249. This means that a blockbuster rematch between the Russian and the Irishman is unlikely at least for the near future. First, Nurmagomedov has to get by Ferguson and Conor would have to wait or win his next bout to make that fight. If Tony wins, all bets are off.
To be honest, McGregor’s career path changes every week. His coach John Kavanagh (3-3 MMA) recently stated that he wants his top star to stay in the welterweight division. It’s unclear if his opinion will override that of the majority of fans, most pundits, and UFC boss Dana White. If they tell the former featherweight not to stay at the heavier weight class in a way that implies it is because he can’t be successful there…he’s doing it.
A fight with Gaethje would make sense. Market it as a true number one contender’s match. ‘The King vs The Killer’. Add a couple of video packages in there and we are likely to get over 1.5 million PPV buys. Book it, Dana. As exciting as they both are and being at the head of the line for a shot at the winner of Ferguson vs Khabib it just makes sense.
Knowing Conor we will be getting a legitimate Jorge Masvidal call out in the next week or so. Please no.
Justin Gaethje has a positive and realistic outlook on whether or not he will get a shot at having a red panty night. Here’s what he said (via MMAJunkie) about the chances of scoring a fight with Mystic Mac.
I’m not necessarily being overlooked. I’m in the conversation. I lost two times not that long ago, and unfortunately that set me back, and that allows these people to have an argument or a case when it comes to the argument or it comes to this circumstance.
In reference to whether Conor himself will agree to the fight.
Ultimately that dude makes his own decisions, and I think he has more confidence now. He needed a win. Yeah, I think he’ll fight me now.
What do you think about Gaethje vs McGregor?