Cormier Rules Out McGregor Fight For Gaethje Next

Daniel Cormier shot down speculation that Justin Gaethje could face Conor McGregor in his first UFC lightweight title defense.

Gaethje captured the 155-pound belt earlier this year, and while he has expressed interest in a lucrative clash with the former two-division champion, Cormier told fans on his YouTube channel that the matchup makes no sense for a reigning titleholder. McGregor remains sidelined until at least summer 2027 after suffering ACL and meniscus damage during his brief UFC 329 return.

Why Gaethje Cannot Vacate For McGregor Payday

"There is no easy option for Justin Gaethje," Cormier said, per MMA Junkie. "As the world champion, that can't happen. And also I read somewhere where he said he would vacate the belt to fight Conor. You can't do that. It would harm his legacy to give away the belt and put value in the money fight over being a world champion."

Arman Tsarukyan sits as the clear No. 1 contender after knocking out Mauricio Ruffy with a first-round elbow at UFC 331. A rematch with Ilia Topuria has also surfaced as a possibility, though Cormier stressed that Gaethje cannot abandon his title to chase the McGregor purse. The Irishman has not won a fight since early 2020.

Gaethje has acknowledged publicly that he prefers the McGregor bout over rematches with Max Holloway or Charles Oliveira, but most observers agree the timing does not align. Cormier said even if Gaethje were coming off a loss and had no belt, the fight might be possible — but not while he holds the strap.

Gaethje is expected to make his first defense in the coming months, with Tsarukyan the presumed opponent.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Daniel Cormier rules out Conor McGregor fight for Justin Gaethje next: “You can’t do that”