Conor McGregor critiques Justin Gaethje ahead of UFC 329 matchup

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Conor McGregor isn’t making a hit list now that he’s ready to return to action at UFC 329 but there are definitely plenty of options awaiting him. First up is his showdown against Max Holloway on July 11 but McGregor has made it clear that he wants to stay busy now that he’s healthy and ready to compete again. But what about making another run at a title and perhaps setting up a showdown against new lightweight champion Justin Gaethje? “Max has flatlined Justin,” McGregor told Paramount. “He knocked him out. Face down. Out cold. “Justin’s OK. When he’s on, Justin’s OK. When he’s bad, he’s atrocious. He’s woeful. He slaps his punches a lot. But he’s very, very durable and he’s unorthodox in his style.” As intriguing as that matchup might be, especially after Gaethje scored an improbable win over Ilia Topuria at the UFC White House card, McGregor isn’t really thinking about a return to his old stomping grounds. Instead, the Irish superstar seems content competing at welterweight, which is the weight class where he makes his return against Holloway. “For sure [I can make a run at the title],” McGregor said. “I’m a 170-pound fighter now. I already held the 155-pound unified UFC world title. I’m open for business. I wish for activity. I’ve got a great fight in front of me.” With only two fights remaining on his UFC contract, McGregor’s future is still very much up in the air but he’s anxious to get active now that he’s back. He’s already hinted at the UFC having plans for him to fight in July and then book his next matchup in April 2027 but obviously nothing is set in stone at this point. But McGregor’s adamant that he doesn’t want to sit on the sideline any longer after missing out on five years of his career due to the broken leg he suffered in his last outing back in 2021. That said, McGregor isn’t name dropping anybody as a potential opponent after he gets through Holloway because he knows everybody lines up with hands out when it’s time to face him. “There’s a few names for sure,” McGregor said about who he wants to fight. “I have just more so activity. I wish to just compete. I want the smoke. I want all the smoke. For sure. Bring it all on. I don’t rate them. Not on my level. “Rather than saying it and getting into more detail on it, I would rather just show. That I will do.”

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Conor McGregor isn’t opposed to a fight with Justin Gaethje but he’s not chasing it either