Conor McGregor Challenges Justin Gaethje, UFC 249 Winner Wants Khabib Nurmagomedov Fight

Just prior to UFC 249, Conor McGregor told UFC president Dana White that he wanted to get back inside the octagon. Following the event, it appears that MMA’s biggest star has landed on his ideal opponent.

McGregor has targeted Justin Gaethje, calling out the fighter on Twitter Monday afternoon. Gaethje defeated Tony Ferguson for the interim UFC lightweight championship Saturday night in the UFC 249 main event.

Gaethje has another fight on his mind. Instead of going after the UFC’s top draw, the 31-year-old wants to face off with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The fans make the sport!
Watching the other night I was against going in without them. But it will be my fucking pleasure to display the power I possess with zero background noise for them.
Its me and Justin next as khabib is the biggest bottle fighter in the game.
Guarantee it.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 11, 2020

Justin, there is no danger in a man that hugs legs, we all know. Try and dance around what the real threat is here all you want.
I am going to fucking butcher you.
Your teeth. I’m going to put them on a fucking necklace.
Speak on my skills as a father?
You are fucking dead.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 11, 2020

Khabib you absolute embarrassment. Scurrying, hiding rat as usual. As I have said many times. As has been seen many times. Through the pane of glass it was confirmed what was always known.
“No comment” lol.
An embarrassment to real fighting.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 11, 2020

Nurmagomedov won the 155-pound title two years ago and has been victorious in all 27 of his professional MMA fights. His first successful title defense came at UFC 229 when Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor in the fourth round.

McGregor returned to the cage at UFC 246, where he knocked out Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds. Gaethje had been hoping to be the fighter that would face off with McGregor that night.

“He had his chance for that, and he picked Cowboy [in January],” Gaethje's manager Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, regarding McGregor’s challenge. “He picked the easier fight. The two kings of the division are going to fight in Khabib and Justin. Conor can be the co-main event.”

Gaethje was dominant in Saturday’s victory over Ferguson, improving his career record to 22-2. The interim champ has recorded four straight knockouts since losing to Dustin Poirier on April 14, 2018.

UFC 250 is the next scheduled pay-per-view, set for June 6.