Conor McGregor Eyes Justin Gaethje Title Fight If UFC 329 Return Goes to Plan

Conor McGregor has identified Justin Gaethje as a potential future opponent if his comeback fight at UFC 329 against Max Holloway ends in victory.

Conor McGregor Eyes Justin Gaethje Title Fight If UFC 329 Return Goes to Plan

Conor McGregor eyes a title fight against Justin Gaethje [via MMA Fighting]

It has been over a decade since Conor McGregor has held a title in the UFC. The last time he fought for a title was at UFC 229 against Khabib Nurmagomedov when the Irishman tapped out in the fourth round. As he returns to the octagon, McGregor has set his sights on UFC gold once again, revealing a desire to once again fight for the lightweight title.

The lightweight belt is currently held by Justin Gaethje, who won it off Ilia Topuria in a thrilling encounter at the White House last Sunday. ‘The Highlight’ was a massive underdog heading into the fight, but managed to pull off a huge upset victory over Topuria. With his win, the 37-year-old became the oldest lightweight champion in UFC history.

Moreover, the American lightweight has remained active in the UFC, having fought four times since the start of 2024. On the other hand, McGregor has not fought since snapping his shin at UFC 264, so the deck is stacked against him in a hypothetical fight. Even so, the ex-featherweight champion fancies his chances at UFC 329.

I think Gaethje is, when he’s on, he’s good, he’s okay, but when he’s off, he’s atrocious. You know, I fancy him handily. I fancy teeing off on Gaethje.

Conor McGregor via the Ariel Helwani Show

The 37-year-old Irishman then also revealed that Gaethje wasn’t the only champion on his radar, bringing up the UFC welterweight champion, Islam Makhachev, as another fight he would be open to. That said, he also acknowledged the persistent rumors of his fellow Irishman, Ian Garry being the Dagestani double champion’s next fight.

And Islam, there’s history there. It’s at 170. I know he’s fighting an Irishman, my fellow Irishman, who I’ve also trained with, who I also know. I’m open for it, for sure. I’m open for either.

Conor McGregor via the Ariel Helwani Show

The Mystic Mac’s UFC 329 return is slated for the welterweight division. Even so, he will actually be facing a top 10 lightweight in Max Holloway. So, a successful return does open a convoluted set of doors for the biggest star in MMA. After all, Justin Gaethje had revealed earlier that he was open to fighting the former double champion.

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Justin Gaethje once laid out a scenario for a title fight against Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor was long rumored to be headlining the White House after both he and Dana White expressed interest in it before the card’s announcement. It ultimately did not come to pass with Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje getting the nod instead. However, the newly crowned lightweight champion was actually open to the possibility of facing the Irishman instead of the Spaniard last Sunday.

Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje is open to fighting Conor McGregor [via MMA Mania and IMDB]

Last year, ‘El Matador’ was going through a messy divorce with his then-wife, Giorgina Uzcategui. The former lightweight champion had announced that he would step away from the sport to sort out his personal life. During that sabbatical, Gaethje, his future UFC Freedom 250 opponent laid out a scenario which saw him and the Irish star face off in a title bout.

If it’s [Conor] McGregor, then McGregor’s gonna fight me and we’ll be main event anyway. If Ilia didn’t come back, they’d strip him, I’d become the undisputed, and then McGregor gets to fight whoever he wants so I guess that would be an option.

Justin Gaethje via The Pat McAfee Show

Nonetheless, even back then the ‘Highlight’ seemed to call his shot as he predicted that Topuria would ultimately be his opponent at the White House. Now, having become undisputed champion, albeit much differently from how he’d imagined it, a title fight against McGregor is truly on the table.

However, the Irishman will first need to employ his renewed approach to fighting to get past Max Holloway. While he expressed supreme confidence as he trolled ‘Blessed’ in their recent interview, only Conor McGregor’s return fight will decide if he does go onto compete for UFC gold again.

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