Holloway, Oliveira rematches hold little appeal for champion

'Results of upcoming bouts will determine my next opponent,' Gaethje says

UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje kicks a golden ball for fans at the Fanatics Fest event held in New York in July. [Getty Images]
UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje kicks a golden ball for fans at the Fanatics Fest event held in New York in July. [Getty Images]

UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje (37, United States), savoring life as a late-career champion, has his sights set on Conor McGregor as his next opponent — a high-profile, high-reward matchup he appears to prefer over any revenge bout.

In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Gaethje reflected on his changed mindset since winning the title. "Before, I was always chasing the guy who held the belt," he said. "Now that I'm the champion, I feel like I need to protect and hold on to what I have."

He then unexpectedly named McGregor as a target. "I don't have a specific opponent in mind. I know the best fighters in the world are gunning for me, and I know my next opponent will be one of them," Gaethje said. "Now it seems like it's McGregor. It would be fun to shut that mouth."

The remark laid bare Gaethje's appetite for the so-called "golden goblin." McGregor is not among the world's elite fighters Gaethje was ostensibly referring to — he is widely seen as a big name who would be relatively easy to beat. That perception hardened after McGregor suffered a TKO loss to Max Holloway in his return fight in July, his first bout in five years, after sustaining a knee injury mid-fight and being unable to mount any resistance.

On paper, Holloway and Charles Oliveira are the more logical challengers for Gaethje's next defense. Gaethje has previously suffered a KO loss to Holloway and a submission loss to Oliveira, giving both fighters a strong case for a lightweight title shot.

Gaethje sees it differently, however. He considers both losses avenged indirectly through his victory over Ilia Topuria at the UFC White House card in June, reasoning that Topuria had finished both "Blessed" Holloway and "Do Bronx" Oliveira in previous title fights before losing to him — making the redemption, in his view, complete by proxy.

His wishes may not come to pass, though. The winner of the Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy bout at UFC 331 on Sept. 20 appears the more likely candidate to receive the next title shot.

Gaethje acknowledged as much. "Tsarukyan was supposed to fight Oliveira, and now he's fighting someone else," he said. "There are some big fights coming up, and the results of those will determine who I fight next."

Gaethje announced early on that he would not compete this year due to injury, meaning his title defense — whoever the opponent — is expected in the first half of next year. McGregor, who underwent knee surgery, is also projected to be ready to return no earlier than July of next year.


yjc@heraldcorp.com