With Khabib Nurmagomedov set to fight Dustin Poirier in a UFC lightweight unification bout, at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi on September 7th, and Tony Ferguson taking on ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone at UFC 238 next month, I would argue that the fight that makes the most sense for Conor McGregor next, is Justin Gaethje.

And with UFC President Dana White stating recently that he believes that McGregor will return this summer, we may not have to wait long to find out who the former UFC two division champion will face next.

Speaking on MMA Junkie Radio, Gaethje’s manager Ali Abdelaziz, spoke about the possible matchup.

“People want to chase this guy, Conor McGregor. If you want to come and get it, understand, if you give Gaethje eight weeks, Gaethje doesn’t take short-notice fights. Just to be clear, for everyone to know out there, Gaethje needs eight weeks. If you give Gaethje eight weeks and ask him to fight you, anybody, he’s going to fight. He’s not going to turn down any fights, right? But do you really think that Conor McGregor wants to go to as dark of a place as Justin Gaethje takes you? Do you believe so?

“Conor McGregor is an Instagram model. Conor McGregor, he just wants attention. He goes to the gym everyday and they give him a spray bottle to make him look sweaty. But we know this guy doesn’t really train hard, because if you train hard, you can’t be losing. He hasn’t won a fight since 1996.

“Justin Gaethje, I’ve been kicked by a lot of guys; when he kicks you, his kick touches your heart, your intestines, your butthole. Everything hurts. I sparred with this guy many rounds, and I have to fight him. I try to kill him. He takes you in sparring to dark places, and I know what kind of mentality (he has).

“You can’t teach heart. You’re born with heart. Conor McGregor, maybe he’s a good streetfighter. Maybe he has heart in streetfights. Police can always come and break it up, or the people break it up and everything is on camera. But I think he has a breaking point. Gaethje doesn’t have. Khabib doesn’t have. Ferguson doesn’t have. Conor does have. He has a breaking point and Justin will take him to the breaking point. Justin might get knocked out in the process – don’t take this away from Conor because he always has this left hand, but I believe it.”

If the fight does come to fruition, Abdelaziz doesn’t like McGregor’s chances very much.

“If Justin Gaethje will fight Conor McGregor, it’s like slaughtering a pig, and he’s going to squeal and he’s going to be all red and blue on Monday night. His legs will be like a rainbow colour. His face would be like a watermelon, black and red.

“We’ll give this white boy some color. We’ll give him a bloody tan. Justin Gaethje would eat his heart alive.”

Would you like to see Conor McGregor vs Justin Gaethje?

See also:

Ali Abdelaziz Wants UFC To Overturn All Of TJ Dillashaw’s Wins