UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje is unsure when or against whom he'll next defend his title, but admits a showdown with Conor McGregor would be a lot of fun. Gaethje, who recently knocked out Ilia Topuria at the buzzing UFC White House in June, became the lightweight champion and is now calling the shots. In a recent media interview with UFC on Paramount, Gaethje called out Conor McGregor for his next UFC showdown. The talk lasted for about 11 minutes; Gaethje discussed his future, dream fights before retirement, and more.
When Gaethje was asked if he would be interested in a rematch with any of his old rivals, he stated, "Damn, there's really no one. It would have been Oliveira or Holloway, but since Topuria beat them, I'm going to go ahead and justify it to myself like I got them back. So I guess McGregor. Fun to shut him up." Before Gaethje handed a crushing defeat to Topuria, he had won the interim lightweight title twice and the "BMF" belt, but came up short in two previous attempts for the undisputed UFC title.
Gaethje prevailed at the third attempt and now faces a new role as champion rather than challenger. "It's such a weird place to be in. There's always been a champion. I've always had somebody to chase. Now, being the champion, it's like I just have to retain and hold onto what I have," he said. "I'm not looking at specific opponents; I know the best in the world are gunning for me. So that is the name of the game."
On retirement rumours, Gaethje said he understands his championship window is going to close sooner rather than later. "How many I have left? It's been one at a time since Day 1." Gaethje's next UFC title defence won't be until 2027, as he recovers from hand injuries suffered in the Topuria fight. In McGregor's case, he won't be available to step into the Octagon until 2027 after suffering a serious knee injury at UFC 329 in Las Vegas earlier this year. All things considered, it seems unlikely Gaethje's dream showdown with McGregor will come true, at least not in 2026.