Conor McGregor vs Justin Gaethje: Manager issues statement after Notorious' Twitter rant
Conor McGregor is hellbent on fighting Justin Gaethje next.
Justin Gaethje's next fight won't be against Conor McGregor, his manager Ali Abdelaziz has insisted. Gaethje well and truly piqued McGregor's interest earlier this month with a stellar performance over Tony Ferguson at UFC 249.
Gaethje put on a career-best performance against 'El Cucuy' on his way to register a fifth-round TKO victory and claim the interim lightweight title.
After seeing Gaethje end Ferguson's 12-fight win streak, McGregor began campaigning for a clash with the interim lightweight champion.
In fact, the former two-division titleholder insisted he'll face Gaethje before undisputed lightweight champion Khabib Nuragomedov.
"It's me and Justin next as Khabib is the biggest bottle fighter in the game," McGregor tweeted on Monday. "Guarantee it."
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Justin Gaethje has so much integrity, he will never tell the UFC, ‘Oh, I’m gonna fight Conor, forget about Khabib.’ He wants to be a champion.
He added: “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 f*****g butcher you.
"Your teeth. I’m going to put them on a f****** necklace. Speak on my skills as a father? You are f*****g dead.”
Abdelaziz, who also manages the undisputed lightweight champion, insists there's no chance McGregor faces Gaethje before Nurmagomedov does.
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“Khabib will never, never pass Justin Gaethje for Conor. Even if he made more money,” Abdelaziz told TMZ.
“Justin Gaethje has so much integrity, he will never tell the UFC, ‘Oh, I’m gonna fight Conor, forget about Khabib.’ He wants to be a champion.
“If (Conor) thinks he’s gonna sit out and fight the winner (of Gaethje vs. Khabib)… No. Especially, if Khabib wins. Khabib said no. (Conor) needs more wins.
“The UFC is not boxing. The best will fight the best and at this point (Justin and Khabib are) the two best guys.”
Gaethje is well aware of huge payday that would come with a McGregor fight but insists his sight are firmly set on unifying the lightweight titles.
"If I want to fight Conor, I can fight Conor," the former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion said. "Believe me.
"Why wouldn't Dana [White] put that together? But that's not the fight I want.
"His only ploy is he's Mr. Red Panty Night. Not everyone is a greedy motherf***er like him."