Justin Gaethje calls out Conor McGregor for a fight after UFC 329

Justin Gaethje has made it clear that retirement is not on his mind just yet. The newly crowned UFC lightweight champion believes he still has a few fights left. Instead of focusing on defending his title, Gaethje is excited about the possibility of finally sharing the Octagon with Conor McGregor.The American also plans to closely watch McGregor’s comeback fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329. Gaethje believes the result could decide whether the long-awaited clash between him and the Irish superstar finally becomes a reality.Justin Gaethje says beating Conor McGregor would strengthen his legacySpeculation about Justin Gaethje’s future increased after he defeated Ilia Topuria to capture the lightweight title at Dana White’s UFC Freedom 250. Many fans wondered if the veteran would retire while on top. However, Gaethje dismissed those doubts during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show.The champion said he is looking forward to watching Conor McGregor’s return against Max Holloway. He admitted that Holloway’s knockout win over him still stands out, but believes his victory over Topuria helped restore his confidence. Gaethje added that facing McGregor has been one of his biggest goals for years, and he is eager to finally test himself against the former two-division champion."I'm very interested to see what happens in that fight. Holloway definitely knocked me out, but I feel like I got that one back with the Topuria fight. As I've stated hundreds of times publicly, I would love to punch Conor McGregor in the face. I'm excited about that fight. I'm excited to be there and watch it”, Gaethje said. Gaethje explained that a fight with McGregor would be significant for more than just the competition. He believes the Irish star remains one of the biggest attractions in mixed martial arts. Because of that, defeating McGregor would boost his career, increase his earnings, and add another major achievement to his legacy as one of the sport’s top lightweights.Meanwhile, McGregor has shown no shortage of confidence ahead of his return at UFC 329. Speaking to veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, the former champion claimed he matches up well against Gaethje. He praised the American for being dangerous when he finds his rhythm but argued that he becomes vulnerable when things do not go his way. McGregor said he is confident he would control the fight and defeat Gaethje convincingly if they ever meet inside the Octagon.For now, Gaethje’s attention remains on McGregor’s comeback against Holloway. A win for ‘The Notorious’ could move him closer to a blockbuster title fight with the lightweight champion. Fans have wanted this matchup for several years because of both fighters’ aggressive styles and knockout power.Whether Gaethje defends his belt first or waits for McGregor’s return remains to be seen. However, his latest comments make one thing clear. Before he eventually walks away from the sport, the UFC lightweight champion wants to settle unfinished business by facing one of the biggest names in MMA history.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.