Conor McGregor has been told UFC rival Justin Gaethje will leave him wheelchair bound if the pair fight in any weight division.
McGregor has not fought since breaking his leg in defeat to Dustin Poirier last year, but has made a return to training ahead of an octagon return in 2023. The Irishman has seen a significant decline in form in recent years having won just once in his last four UFC fights, which has seen many opponents produce call-outs fancying their chances.
One of them is 155lb star Gaethje who has always vowed to step in the cage with McGregor before his career is over. And frequent McGregor critic Ali Abdelaziz believes McGregor will avoid a fight with Gaethje when he is ready to make a comeback in the new year.
"I would like to see Justin Gaetje destroy Conor McGregor and put him in a wheelchair," Abdelaziz said during an interview with The Schmo when discussing future opponents for McGregor. "I would love to see that. Any weight. I would like to see this fight but we know he doesn't like to fight anymore. He wants easy fights. He's probably not going to fight Justin Gaethje."
McGregor is expected to return at 170lb after bulking up dramatically during his time away from the sport which could put a fight with Gaethje lower down on the pecking order. However the American is understood to be willing to make a leap in weight to secure the fight, if the Irishman is ready to sign an agreement.
The Irishman had previously declared he was ready to step up to the plate and take an immediate title shot at Gaethje if he beat Charles Oliveira in May but he was choked out in devastating fashion. His loss could see him put back on McGregor's radar particularly given he will look to make a winning comeback after a long time out of action.
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However Gaethje believes McGregor's time at the top is over irrespective of his planned return, and would expect him to face Jorge Masvidal instead. “I mean, I lost, so there’s a much greater chance that that will happen,” Gaethje told ESPN. “He only fights people coming off losses, and here we are.
"I don’t think it’s going to happen at all. I think there’s about a 0 percent chance. Why would he fight (again)? I don’t think he fights. I mean a fight for purely, strictly entertainment value, possibly. But as far as coming back and being a competitive athlete, trying to fight for a title, absolutely never again. He might fight (Jorge) Masvidal. (Nate) Diaz is gone, so he f***ed up there.”
