Justin Gaethje Criticizes Conor McGregor's UFC Ranking, Says 'I'll Fight Him One Day'

Fight fans were left wondering what could have been when Conor McGregor revealed last week that he had been in talks for a return bout to the Octagon to fight Justin Gaethje back in July.

The fight never materialized, as McGregor injured his wrist in sparring, but “The Highlight” caught wind of the interview and said he’s still open to fight the Irishman, although that will have to wait as he’s scheduled to take on Donald Cerrone next month when the UFC returns to Vancouver for UFC Fight Night 158.

Gaethje recently spoke with TMZ Sports about the McGregor interview and said he predicts he’ll get a crack at “The Notorious” sooner or later before lamenting the fact that he’s still the organization’s No. 3 ranked lightweight despite having fought only once in nearly three years.

”I feel like I’ll fight him one day,” Gaethje said. “Probably after 'Cowboy.' The winner of this fight, so long as it’s impressive. If he’s coming back, it has to be someone like me, like 'Cowboy.' It ain’t gonna be a Tony. It could be the loser of Khabib vs. Poirier, but I doubt he wants to do that. So the next option is the winner of me vs. Cowboy if he wants back into the mix. He’s ranked No. 3 right now, that’s crazy to me. But he’s got a lot of power.”

Gaethje then added that he wants to make McGregor pay for the incident back in April when the Irishman punched a man at a pub in his homeland of Ireland.

”He hasn’t fought in two and a half years, but he just has to fight and we’re talking about it,” Gaethje said. “He brings the most attention, he’s the biggest superstar in this sport, he’s not even fighting and he’s still the biggest superstar. So of course I want to f--- him up. I see him punch an old man, do I want to punch him for that? F--- yeah, I want to f--- that dude up for s--- like that. He looks like a crackhead on your video.”