After Justin Gaethje's impressive victory at UFC 291 former two-weight champion Conor McGregor seems to have shifted his attention away
After Justin Gaethje’s impressive victory at UFC 291 former two-weight champion Conor McGregor seems to have shifted his attention away from a potential fight with Michael Chandler. Instead, McGregor is now eyeing a showdown with the newly-crowned symbolic BMF titleholder Justin Gaethje. He has boldly vowed to knock him out if they meet in the Octagon.
Headlining the highly-anticipated UFC 291 event in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gaethje showcased his incredible skills as he avenged a previous loss to Dustin Poirier. The former interim lightweight champion delivered an earth-shattering second-round high-kick knockout leaving fans in awe of his striking prowess.
With two consecutive victories under his belt. Gaethje returned to the Octagon earlier this year with a hard-fought majority decision win over the talented Rafael Fiziev. His performance in that fight set the stage for his BMF title shot which he successfully clinched with the highlight-reel knockout against Poirier.
The impressive performance did not go unnoticed by Conor McGregor who wasted no time in expressing his interest in a BMF title fight with Gaethje. This sudden shift in focus suggests that McGregor might be putting his expected welterweight return against Michael Chandler on the back burner.
In his typical brash and confident manner the Dubliner confidently called his shot ahead of a potential clash with Gaethje. McGregor boldly claimed that he would stop the former interim kingpin with a one-punch knockout, displaying the self-assurance that has made him one of the most entertaining and polarizing figures in the sport.
However, Gaethje did not appear to be too receptive to McGregor’s call-out. During the post-fight press conference at UFC 291, Gaethje accused McGregor of using steroids during his two-year layoff from the Octagon. He made it clear that he would not entertain the idea of fighting someone who has utilized performance-enhancing drugs emphasizing his commitment to clean and fair competition.
“I’m not going to fight someone on steroids,” Gaethje stated firmly. “I’ve never taken steroids in my life, never will – well, maybe when I retire, I might, but I’ve never taken steroids, and I don’t want to fight someone that’s cheating. And I probably shouldn’t even say that I want the fight, but it’s the truth.“
Gaethje’s principled stance against fighting those who have used banned substances adds another layer of intrigue to a potential showdown with McGregor. While the two fighters have a history of exchanging verbal jabs and trash talk. Gaethje’s insistence on fair competition raises questions about whether McGregor would be willing to comply with the stringent anti-doping regulations.
For more UFC news and updates
Read: UFC 291: Preview, Prediction, Fight Card, Where to Watch, Venue, and Tickets
Read: UFC 291 results: Justin Gaethje claims BMF title with stunning knockout victory Over Dustin Poirier
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