Justin Gaethje believes Conor McGregor wants no part of him.
Speaking to TMZ, Gaethje (21-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) said McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is looking for a guaranteed win, which is why he’d never agree to fight him.
“I truly believe he’s scared to fight the fight that he has to fight against me,” Gaethje said. “I think he’s looking for a sure win. At the end of the day, there’s only two ways out with me: You either knock me out … I wouldn’t finish him like Khabib did. I wouldn’t take his neck. I would make him stand up and then I would make him take it like a man, and that’s one thing I know. I know deep down he’s terrified, and that’s one thing I bring to the table.”
With Donald Cerrone targeted to face “The Notorious” on Jan. 18 in Las Vegas, Gaethje believes McGregor is ducking him. McGregor has mapped out a plan to climb his way back to a rematch with lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, which doesn’t include Gaethje.
And Gaethje believes that if McGregor wants to come anywhere near the title, he should have to go through him since he’s positioned himself into 155-pound contention, with three straight first-round knockouts.
“If he’s fighting anybody, it should be me,” Gaethje said. “If he wants to fight for the world title. If he doesn’t, he can fight whoever he wants. I’m cool with that. That’s perfectly fine. I have no complaints about that, but if you want to fight for a world title, I’ve put myself in line, and you’re trying to be in line, so what is happening right now?”
Gaethje didn’t mince words towards McGregor, as he believes the end is near for the Irish star.
“I think he knows that he needs a win, but at the end of the day, this is going to be another Ronda Rousey story,” Gaethje said. “He dug himself too deep of a hole, and there’s no way he can come out of it. He’s going to get knocked out, and he’s going to go away.
“He’s an absolute (expletive) if he does not fight me. There’s no … he’s going to lose a ton of respect from all his fans. I mean, how big of a (expletive) can he be?”
Justin Gaethje: Conor McGregor 'terrified' to fight me, looking for 'sure win'
