Justin Gaethje Considers Conor McGregor for Title Defense

Justin Gaethje recently claimed that the UFC's lightweight division is largely cleared out after his win over Ilia Topuria for the undisputed title at UFC Freedom 250, held at the White House.

For his first title defense, Gaethje is considering a matchup with Conor McGregor instead of facing contenders Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, as Topuria has previously defeated both fighters. Gaethje noted that he feels justified in this choice since he has avenged their losses through Topuria.

McGregor, who returned to the Octagon in July after a five-year hiatus, suffered a leg injury in his fight against Holloway, which ended in just 69 seconds. He has not secured a victory since 2020. Gaethje also mentioned that he is aware of the competitive landscape, with fighters like Arman Tsarukyan in the mix, and acknowledged the shift in his role from challenger to champion. His next fight is not expected until 2027 as he continues to recover from a hand injury sustained during his bout with Topuria.