Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje exchange insults in lead up to potential bout 3v2822

Left: Justin Gaethje, Right: Conor McGregor – CC 2q6p4r

Inactive UFC fighter Conor McGregor has called out new BMF title holder Justin Gaethje. Following the latter’s crowning with his recent UFC 291 win over Dustin Poirier, “The Notorious” took to Twitter to challenge “The Highlight.”

“Justin, I’ll slap you around,” McGregor said in a now-deleted post.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) last fought in July 2021 at UFC 264, where he was defeated by Porier (29-8 MMA, 21-7 UFC) via doctor stoppage. The former double champ was forced to retire from the fight and the sport after he snapped his lower leg while fighting “The Diamond.”

McGregor is supposed to fight Michael Chandler (23-8-0 MMA, 2-3-0 UFC) sometime in September to mark his return to the cage, with the current season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show serving as the setup for the bout. However, McGregor now seems to have diverted his attention toward becoming the UFC’s next “Baddest MotherF***r.”

“I’m the real bmf, he can fight for pennies if he wants but I want spirits, I call the shots, I’m in it to launch shots, fuck chandler, you want it call for it,” the Irishman said in another now-deleted tweet.

Responding to the call out, Gaethje said in a press conference that McGregor had turned him down six times in the past. The fighter said he had now lost the appetite to fight McGregor while accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs.

However, while Gaethje continued to dismiss McGregor’s challenge for days, he finally gave in.

“Sign the contract big boy,” Gaethje said on Twitter, to which McGregor quickly responded, “Signed.”

A potential bout complicated by UFC’s schedule 35u5h

With his knockout win over Poirier on Sunday, Gaethje has earned his shot for the lightweight title. The belt will be defended by Islam Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) against Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) in their rematch at UFC 294 on October 21 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Understandably, Gaethje would want to spend his luck on the belt instead of facing McGregor. This means a fight between the two will have to wait.

On the other hand, McGregor has been reluctant to enter USADA’s testing pool. This situation has also put his fight with Chandler under the limelight. Fans and analysts alike now believe that McGregor is avoiding Chandler, meaning the September fight will likely be canceled.