The combat sports industry is bracing for a total meltdown. After years of trading verbal barbs, the much-hyped fight between Conor “The Notorious” McGregor and Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje looks closer to reality than ever.
Despite having to first deal with the highly anticipated fight between himself and Max Holloway at UFC 329, McGregor already has plans for an undefeated streak in the 170-pound division while ignoring Gaethje’s newly won 155-pound belt.
The War of Words Turns Physical
Their old rivalry reached its peak when McGregor gave an interview at UFC on Paramount+. Asked whether he considered the new champ a potential rival for future title fights, McGregor didn’t hold back and made a frank analysis of Gaethje’s skills: “Justin’s alright.
If Justin is good, Justin’s alright. If he’s bad, he’s atrocious. He’s woeful. He punches his punches a lot, but very durable and very unorthodox in his approach.” In addition, the Irish fighter added that his next opponent, Holloway, had “flatlined” Gaethje, knocking him “face down, out cold.”
Gaethje, notorious for putting up some of the most brutal fights in the sport, responded to these taunts by saying that he would “love to punch Conor McGregor in the face.”
Metric Conor McGregor Justin Gaethje MMA Record 22-6-0 25-5-0 Special Moves Counter Left Cross, Wheel Kick Brutal Calf Kicks, Overhand Right Net Worth $200+ Million $5 Million Notable Past Fights Khabib Nurmagomedov, Nate Diaz, Max Holloway Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, Ilia Topuria
Strategy Analysis: Snipe vs. Sledgehammer
For McGregor to win in this fight, he must capitalize on Gaethje’s fondness for high-octane wars. His famous technique in the ring has always been his classic, sniper-like counter left cross that has historically proven capable of taking down over-enthusiastic strikers by controlling the space, attacking at angles, and utilizing spinning wheel kicks.
Gaethje is a different beast altogether, now ruling the division after an absolute war against Ilia Topuria. He makes use of his vicious calf kicks to break his opponent’s mobility before he finishes the game.
However, if Gaethje is able to survive through McGregor’s precision in the first few rounds and prolong the fight into an attrition war in later rounds, he will have a major edge due to his pressure style and iron chin.
Conclusion
It is an event with enormous monetary value, intense personal animosity, and unique fighting styles that have been specifically designed to make it look great on TV. If Conor McGregor beats Max Holloway in UFC 329, the most anticipated fight of his career would be against the undisputed champion, David Gaethje.
