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UFC superstar Conor McGregor unloaded a series of hard-hitting tweets on Monday in a shocking tirade that detailed his thoughts about UFC 249 and how the Irishman believes he fits into the new look 155-pound division.
Most shockingly, though, McGregor “guaranteed” that he’d be the next fighter to climb inside the cage against new UFC interim lightweight champ Justin Gaethje.
“Its me and Justin next as khabib is the biggest bottle fighter in the game. Guarantee it,” McGregor posted via Twitter.
Gaethje Beat Ferguson For Next Crack at Khabib
Gaethje was a late replacement opponent for Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 after the COVID-19 outbreak sidelined UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.
But Gaethje was ready and willing to take on “El Cucuy” anyway, so UFC matchmakers made certain the fight could happen and put its interim 155-pound belt up for grabs for the event, too.
Gaethje pulled off the shocking upset at UFC 249. The American smashed Ferguson for five rounds until he broke the 36-year-old’s orbital bone, forcing the referee to stop the fight during the last round.
In the end, Ferguson simply had no answer for the onslaught that Gaethje brought into the cage that night at Vystar Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Did Gaethje’s Win Put Him in Driver’s Seat?
By the end of the night in Jacksonville, Gaethje had pulled off the biggest and best win of his MMA career. That should have put him in the driver’s seat in regards to who he fights next.
But McGregor seems to believe that he’ll be the one to get Gaethje next inside the UFC’s Octagon.
Nevermind UFC president Dana White guaranteeing the winner of Ferguson-Gaethje would fight Nurmagomedov next.
Never mind what Gaethje said right after he beat Ferguson.
“Khabib is the best in the world. … He’s 28-0, and there’s no other challenge I want right now,” Gaethje said.
Nevermind what Gaethje’s manager Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto on Monday either.
“He had his chance for that, and he picked Cowboy [in January]. 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,” Abdelaziz said per ESPN.
McGregor is the premier superstar in MMA, and he believes he’ll decide who Gaethje faces next.
Why McGregor Might Be Correct
If McGregor truly believes he has the inside track to facing Gaethje next, it’s hard to argue against the Irishman having the power to make that happen.
Because McGregor is the biggest and most popular brand name the company has to offer.
Heck, McGregor is the most popular active fighter in all of combat sports put together.
So McGregor’s shocking guarantee that he’ll get his hands on Gaethje next might seem a little out of left-field at first glance, but after a little more thinking it seems more than reasonable to suggest he might be right.
In fact, it almost seems guaranteed to happen.
McGregor Keeps Teasing Lightweight Title Bout in July
On Tuesday, McGregor continued to tease the idea that he’d be getting a title shot in July.
McGregor tweeted, “Super excited for the LW Title bout in July!”
So it appears McGregor is firm in his belief that he’ll get what he wants in July, and according to what he’s said over recent days, McGregor aims to face Gaethje for the interim title at 155.
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