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Nicolas Atkin

Six months ago Justin Gaethje was eagerly calling for a fight with Conor McGregor. Now the new UFC interim lightweight champion is taking great pleasure in seeing the roles reversed.
McGregor went on a Twitter rampage after watching UFC 249, where Gaethje shocked former No 1 contender Tony Ferguson via fifth-round TKO to set up a clash against lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The Irishman, who is desperate for another shot at the Russian, challenged Gaethje to fight him first instead of Nurmagomedov, claiming he would be returning to compete on “Fight Island” in July.
But the American simply isn’t interested, for now.


“Isn’t it ironic that this dude is on his knees,” Gaethje wrote on Twitter. “Careful @TheNotoriousMMA you are losing your clout. @DustinPoirier is sitting there ready to go like I was for the last 3 years.”
Gaethje (22-2) has of course rebuilt himself as a force to be reckoned with at the very top of the lightweight division. Since suffering the first defeats of his career back-to-back against Eddie Alvarez in December 2017 and Poirier in April 2018, Gaethje has reeled off four straight wins against James Vick, Edson Barboza, Donald Cerrone and Ferguson.

Isn’t it ironic that this dude is on his knees. Careful @TheNotoriousMMA you are losing your clout. @DustinPoirier is sitting there ready to go like I was for the last 3 years. #gaethjevskhabib @danawhite @seanshelby @Mickmaynard2 pic.twitter.com/WUCbDFnHM4
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) May 15, 2020

While Gaethje is dead set on a showdown with his Dominance MMA teammate Nurmagomedov next, he has said he will “go to Ireland and do what I gotta do” afterwards.
For his part, though, McGregor seems to think he is calling the shots.
“Super excited for lightweight title bout in July!” he tweeted on Thursday. Over to you, Dana White.

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UFC: Tony Ferguson wants to ‘run it back’ against Justin Gaethje – this time ‘without my three previous practice partners helping you’

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UFC 249

UFC: Justin Gaethje says Conor McGregor is ‘on his knees’ and warns him ‘you’re losing your clout’

Justin Gaethje speaks to the media after his Interim lightweight title fight against Tony Ferguson at UFC 249. Photo: AFP

UFC: Conor McGregor says ‘learn how to box’ after Tony Ferguson tells him to ‘put down the bottle’

Tony Ferguson gets hits by Justin Gaethje at UFC 249. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

UFC: Dana White needs Conor McGregor off Twitter and back fighting, so line up Justin Gaethje and cue the media storm

It’s time to get Conor McGregor back in the Octagon. Photo: AP

LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 26: Conor McGregor holds up a cup of his Notorious-branded Irish whiskey as he speaks during a news conference following his 10th-round TKO loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their super welterweight boxing match at T-Mobile Arena on August 26, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 23: UFC President Dana White attends a news conference for the bout between boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor at the KA Theatre at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on August 23, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather and McGregor will meet in a super welterweight boxing match at T-Mobile Arena on August 26 in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

UFC: Khabib, Ali Abdelaziz fire back at Conor McGregor after threats – ‘are you typing drunk?’

Khabib Nurmagomedov throws a punch at Conor McGregor at UFC 229. Photo: Reuters

UFC 249: Conor McGregor says Tony Ferguson is ‘not the level perceived’ and Dustin Poirier would beat him

Tony Ferguson gets caught with a left hand by Justin Gaethje at UFC 249. Photo: AFP

UFC 249: Conor McGregor tells Justin Gaethje to forget Khabib – ‘the real threat is here’

Justin Gaethje celebrates after defeating Tony Ferguson at UFC 249. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Olympic gold medalist and PFL star Kayla Harrison at a press conference with management label-mate and UFC double champion Henry Cejudo. Photo: Amy Kaplan

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


New interim lightweight champion shuts down any chance of fighting Irishman next
‘Dustin Poirier is sitting there ready to go like I was for the last three years,’ Gaethje tells former two-division champ



UFC interim lightweight champ Justin Gaethje shuts down Conor McGregor’s demands for fight, telling him ‘Dustin Poirier’s sitting there ready to go like I was for three years’.


Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

Justin Gaethje

Dustin Poirier

Conor McGregor