With Conor McGregor’s UFC future still relatively unclear, Justin Gaethje’s manager Ali Abdelaziz believes that his client would be far too much for the former double-champion. He has only request though, no late-notice opportunities.
“Gaethje doesn’t take short-notice fights,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie Radio. “Just to be clear, for everyone to know out there, Gaethje needs eight weeks. If you give Gaethje eight weeks and ask him to fight you, anybody, he’s going to fight. He’s not going to turn down any fights, right? But do you really think that Conor McGregor wants to go to as dark of a place as Justin Gaethje takes you? Do you believe so?”
If McGregor does indeed return to the octagon, it’ll be his first outing since losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018. He infamously announced his retirement earlier this year but even still, UFC President Dana White believes that the Irishman will fight again this summer. Time will tell but Abdelaziz certainly questions the legitimacy of McGregor’s comments.
“Conor McGregor is an Instagram model . . . he just wants attention. He goes to the gym every day, and they give him a spray bottle to make him look sweaty. But we know this guy doesn’t really train hard, because if you train hard, you can’t be losing. He hasn’t won a fight since 1996.”
In truth, McGregor last experienced victory in November 2016, conquering Eddie Alvarez at the historic UFC 205, and famously becoming a double-champion. Since then he’s fought twice, losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr in the boxing ring and then most recently, suffering that aforementioned defeat opposite Nurmagomedov. On the other hand, Gaethje has been active by comparison, fighting five times since arriving less than two years ago.
‘The Highlight’ has won three of those five, most recently winning two straight via first-round knockout. In Abdelaziz’s mind though, it’s Gaethje’s heart that would prove most pivotal opposite McGregor. “You can’t teach heart. You’re born with heart. Conor McGregor, maybe he’s a good streetfighter. Maybe he has heart in streetfights . . . but I think he has a breaking point. Gaethje doesn’t have. Khabib doesn’t have. Ferguson doesn’t have. Conor does have.
He has a breaking point, and Justin will take him to the breaking point. Justin might get knocked out in the process – don’t take this away from Conor because he always has this left hand, but I believe it,” Abdelaziz said. While he didn’t comment regarding any ongoing negotiations, Gaethje’s manager confirmed a very confident prediction, “if Justin Gaethje will fight Conor McGregor, it’s like slaughtering a pig . . . we’ll give this white boy some color. We’ll give him a bloody tan. Justin Gaethje would eat his heart alive.”
It’s unclear how far away this potential fight could be but it’s appeal is undeniable nonetheless and based on Abdelaziz’s words, Gaethje’s team are just as interested in it as the fans.
