Justin Gaethje has slammed Conor McGregor ahead of his upcoming clash with Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, labelling the fight a “freak show”.
The 31-year-old had been heavily rumoured as the opponent for McGregor’s comeback in 2020 and was eager for the fight to happen, but despite his best efforts missed out to Cerrone.
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Freak Show
The American lightweight has now hit out at the Irishman’s decision to go for a welterweight fight. He believes it to be a bad move and has questioned the future of the former champion’s career.
Speaking to SiriusXM, Gaethje said: “I mean, it’s a freak show, man. I don’t know what to make of it.”
“For me, I think it’s good, it takes [McGregor] out of the picture.”
“It kind of clears the path to what needs to happen.”
🔊 “For me, I think it’s good, it takes him out of the picture.” – @Justin_Gaethje on Conor McGregor’s choice to fight Donald Cerrone at 170lbs #TLTS@lthomasnews
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/sPR08KITAD— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) December 3, 2019
Unconvincing
Gaethje also isn’t convinced that McGregor can compete in a welterweight fight and still contend for the lightweight title.
He continued: “Fighting at 170 […] I don’t know how in his mind he can say, ‘I’ll fight in 170 and then fight for the world title next.”
“I’d like to think it is because he doesn’t want to fight me, but I don’t think I’m that scary. I don’t understand it.”
“If he wants to fight for a world title, he has to get another win in the lightweight division.”
“I’m sure he knows that he’s gonna put pressure on Dana [White] and the UFC to give him a title fight after […] if […] he beats ‘Cowboy’ at 170.”
“Or maybe he’ll fight someone else at 170, I’m not sure what he’s doing.”
Big Money Plans
Notorious has been absent from UFC action since his defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018, when he lost by submission in the fourth round.
But the Dublin-born superstar announced in October that he would return to the Octagon to face Cerrone on January 18 2020 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and is looking to fight twice more throughout the year.
McGregor recently revealed details of his diet plan ahead of the fight.
There has been speculation that McGregor opted for the fight with Cerrone in order to set up a big money fight later in the year with Jorge Masvidal, who recently beat Nate Diaz at UFC 244 to claim the BMF title.
Whatever the reason, Gaethje has missed out on his fight with McGregor for now and it will be interesting to see how his prediction surrounding Notorious’ career pans out following his welterweight showdown with ‘Cowboy’.
(Featured image source: Instagram/ Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor)