Conor McGregor shreds Justin Gaethje after champion claimed he desires to ‘punch him within the face’

Conor McGregor has torn into Justin Gaethje after the lightweight champion claimed he would love to ‘punch him within the face’.

Years after the pair were initially in talks to fight in 2019, McGregor and Gaethje look like at loggerheads again as they headline two of the largest events in recent memory. The American just won undisputed gold at UFC Freedom 250, while the Irishman faces Max Holloway at UFC 329 on Saturday.

Can Conor McGregor 🇮🇪 overcome a five-year layoff to beat Max Holloway again?

McGregor has never been particularly keen on Gaethje, and has recently claimed that his rival is barely ‘okay’ on his best days. They usually could come face-to-face as the favored lightweight champion says he shall be cageside this weekend in Las Vegas.

Conor McGregor tears into Justin Gaethje ahead of UFC comeback

During today’s UFC 329 media day at T-Mobile Arena, Conor McGregor seemed to be calm as he fielded questions from the world’s media including Bloody Elbow. Nevertheless, certain rivals looked as if it would draw his old trash talking, and Justin Gaethje was top of that list.

After being asked what his response was to Gaethje claiming he desires to punch him within the face, McGregor laughed as he replied: “Yeah, join the queue, there’s a couple of. Look, he has the lightweight belt, fair play to him.”

From there, it was vintage McGregor as he noted that “Holloway had him face down a– up, though. Badly face down, so I’m not even considering of it this time. Would I’m going all the way down to lightweight again? I’m not so sure. I fancy the triple crown, so less of the disrespect you f—ing bum.”