​LAS VEGAS — Justin Gaethje’s plea for a future showdown with Conor McGregor isn’t sounding especially optimistic. On Wednesday, at the UFC 329 media day, McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) addressed the current lightweight champion, saying he would be interested in a matchup now that he’s back in mixed martial arts. McGregor, who is set to face Max Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 329, didn’t appear eager to drop back to 155 pounds to fight Gaethje.
“Join the queue, join the queue. There’s a few,” McGregor said. “Yeah, look, he has the lightweight belt, fair play to him. Holloway put him face down, ass up, though. Badly, badly face down. I’m not even thinking about it this time. Will I go down to lightweight again? Also is another thing I’m not so sure. I fancy the triple crown, so less of the disrespect, you f—ing bum.”
McGregor’s “triple crown” remark hints at a potential ambition to become the first fighter to hold UFC titles in three different divisions simultaneously. He is already a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, and he seems keen to continue competing at 170 pounds, a weight class he suggests suits him as his future home. Islam Makhachev remains the current welterweight champion, with a title defense against Ian Machado Garry scheduled for Aug. 15.
This upcoming bout against Holloway marks McGregor’s return to action for the first time since he broke his leg in the TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021. He has been sidelined for five years while recovering from that injury. He was initially slated to return in 2024 to face Michael Chandler, but a broken toe forced him to withdraw from that matchup.
The original report from MMA Junkie notes the exchange and frames it in the context of McGregor’s response to Gaethje’s overtures, highlighting the dynamic between the two fighters as Gaethje eyes a future clash and McGregor weighs his own strategic path—potentially pursuing a historic three-division crown while continuing his campaign at welterweight.