Justin Gaethje expresses desire to fight Conor McGregor after UFC 329

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Justin Gaethje celebrates his UFC lightweight championship after defeating Ilia Topuria during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Justin Gaethje is still on top of the world following his stunning win over Ilia Topuria in the UFC White House main event and the new undisputed lightweight champion is already looking ahead at what comes next. While he seemed undecided on his future on the night of his title fight victory, Gaethje has enjoyed a little down time and it’s allowed him to start thinking about his future. Nothing is settled just yet but the always exciting human highlight reel seems committed to competing again once he’s healed up and ready to jump into a training camp. “For right now, I feel like I’m going to fight again,” Gaethje told The Jim Rome Show. “That’s what I feel inside my body. I haven’t made a choice.” There’s a long list of contenders vying for a shot at Gaethje’s title with Arman Tsarukyan as the most likely choice, although the UFC hasn’t made any decisions yet regarding the next No. 1 contender. At UFC 329, Conor McGregor makes his long awaited return against Max Holloway in a fight taking place at welterweight between a pair of fighters best known for competing at featherweight and lightweight. Of course, Gaethje never forgot his fight against Holloway at UFC 300 when he decided to throw down with the Hawaiian in the closing moments of the final round and got slept hard by a brutal punch with one second left on the clock. Holloway’s jaw-dropping knockout has gone down as one of the nastiest finishes in UFC history. But truth be told, Gaethje isn’t holding onto any undo animosity towards Holloway about that fight but he’s never made it a secret that he doesn’t have much nice to say about McGregor. “Yeah, I’m very interested to see what happens in that fight,” Gaethje said. “Max definitely knocked me out but I feel like I got that win back with the Ilia Topuria fight. “As I’ve stated hundreds of times publicly. I would love to punch Conor McGregor in the face.” It may not make the most sense in terms of rankings or recent accomplishments but Gaethje knows facing McGregor is a life-changing opportunity for whoever fights him. “There’s no doubt he’s one of the biggest superstars in the sport,” Gaethje said about McGregor. “Fighting a guy like that obviously does great things for me financially and for my legendary status and stuff like that.” Gaethje revealed he’s going to be in attendance at UFC 329 in Las Vegas so he’ll have a front row seat to see how that all plays out. Depending on who wins, Gaethje might potentially have his eye on that person as a future fight now that he’s UFC champion. “I’m excited about that fight,” Gaethje said. “I’m excited to be there and then watch it.”

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UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje said in an interview with Jim Rome that he “would love to punch Conor McGregor in the face.”Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria in a massive upset at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn. While he has not fully decided if he will retire or fight again, he has said […] The post Justin Gaethje: I Would Love to Punch Conor McGregor in the Face appeared first on HEAVY.