Being the reigning lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje has the option to avenge his losses. But he desires a fight with Conor McGregor over them. Despite having multiple losses on his UFC resume, Gaethje is not worried about settling the scores with the opponents he lost to. Instead, he has expressed that an encounter with McGregor is currently the top priority on his list.
Why Gaethje Is Not Seeking Rematches
Gaethje’s UFC career contains five losses, out of which three opponents have already hung up their gloves. This leaves Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway as the only viable contenders for a rematch. While fighters like Sean O’Malley avenged their defeats first after claiming the divisional title, Gaethje expressed that he does not feel the need to take the same path.
He appeared in a recent YouTube video from UFC on Paramount+ where he mentioned there is no one from his former opponents whom he would like to fight again. Gaethje considered the names of Holloway and Oliveira but ultimately rejected the thought since they had both been beaten convincingly by Ilia Topuria, whom he obliterated at UFC Freedom 250. The reigning lightweight king said that if he could pick anybody from his career to fight again, it would have been Oliveira or Holloway, but since Topuria beat them, he justified it to himself as getting them back through that victory.
McGregor Is the Fight He Wants Most
Justin Gaethje did not waste many more words to reveal the fight that he currently wants most. He said that he guesses it is McGregor, and it would be fun to shut him up. McGregor returned to the UFC as a welterweight, and nothing can be said about whether he will agree to fight at lightweight once more. The Irishman shared a WWE meme on X in late August to display how the recovery process has been far from easy.
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Joe Rogan Wants Conor McGregor to Fight Michael Chandler
UFC commentator Joe Rogan has expressed his desire to see Conor McGregor make his return to the octagon against Michael Chandler. Rogan shared his thoughts on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, explaining why he believes Chandler is the right opponent for McGregor’s comeback fight.
The Current Situation for Both Fighters
McGregor is coming off a first-round TKO loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329, a fight in which he also tore his ACL. He is expected to be sidelined for one year while recovering from the injury. As for Chandler, he is coming off a brutal KO loss to Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Freedom 250. Both fighters are looking to bounce back, and Rogan believes a matchup between them would be the perfect way to do it.
Why Rogan Prefers Chandler Over Holloway
Rogan acknowledged that McGregor might want to fight Holloway again to finish what he started. However, he argued that Chandler was always the right fight for McGregor. The two were originally scheduled to fight at UFC 303 in June 2024 after coaching against each other on The Ultimate Fighter. That fight never happened due to McGregor breaking his toe, and it has been anticipated ever since.
Rogan described the matchup as a fun fight that would be good for McGregor. He pointed out that Chandler is very aggressive and gets hit, which plays into McGregor’s strengths as a striker. Chandler is also tough and a really good wrestler, which would test McGregor in different ways. Rogan noted that in his prime, McGregor was one of the best strikers ever, making a fight against Chandler an exciting prospect.
What Could Happen Next
It remains to be seen what the UFC has planned for McGregor in his comeback fight. A fight against Chandler seems far more likely than a trilogy bout against Holloway, given the disappointing ending to their rematch at UFC 329. Another option could be UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, but most people believe Chandler is the smart choice for the matchup.