Justin Gaethje has shot down a call out from UFC superstar Conor McGregor. “The Highlight” stunned those in attendance at UFC 291 with a spectacular head kick finish of Dustin Poirier in the second round.
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Justin Gaethje vs Dustin Poirier finishing sequence highlights at #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/CMCeXOZLiP
— AlAudhli العوذلي (@AAudhli) July 30, 2023
The stunning knockout garnered the attention of the entire combat sports world, but most notably, the former UFC double champion McGregor. “The Notorious” took to Twitter on July 30 to decry Gaethje’s ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ status, exclaiming, “I’m the real BMF.”
I’m the real bmf, he can fight for pennies if he wants but I want spirits, I call the shots, I’m in it to launch shots, fuck chandler, you want it call for it.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 30, 2023
In the process, McGregor shunned his slated fight with Michael Chandler, “f*** Chandler,” McGregor remarked. “I call the shots,” McGregor called for a fight with Gaethje and followed up with another Tweet declaring that he’d slap Gaethje around. “I’m harngry,” the Irish MMA star shared a clip of the UFC 291 stoppage.
Justin, I’ll slap you around
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 30, 2023
The call out may not have gone as planned, however, as an indifferent Gaethje all but shut down the opportunity in his UFC 291 post-fight presser. “I think [McGregor’s] turned me down six times, so… and usually you have to lose to fight him so I don’t know what’s going on” Gaethje replied to McGregor’s “Real BMF” remark.
READ: Dustin Poirier: Top Five Moments in the Octagon
“You know I don’t really care,” Gaethje confided. “…I like to fight [in] big fights, I like exciting things, so it sounds pretty exciting to me. I’m not gonna fight someone on steroids. I’ve never taken steroids in my life — never will — well maybe when I retire I might,” Gaethje said with a straight face. “…I don’t wanna fight someone that’s cheating… I probably shouldn’t even say that if I want the fight, but it’s true.”
McGregor’s return to the UFC has been marred by controversy since the Irish star has failed to re-enter the USADA testing pool before his 2023 deadline. The decision, paired with McGregor’s change in physical appearance, has roused suspicion from fighters and fight fans alike as to whether McGregor has been doping in retirement.
Whether or not this is true, a McGregor Gaethje showdown would undoubtably be the biggest fight to make in combat sports right now. If this fight could materialize is another question entirely.
