Dana White doesn’t understand why Justin Gaethje is frustrated with how the lightweight division has been booked.
After the three big fights were booked in Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler, Tony Ferguson vs. Beneil Dariush, and Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 3 targeted for this summer, Gaethje is on the outside looking in. With no fight made, “The Highlight” vented his frustration about not getting a fight.
“Who knows, man,” Gaethje recently said to Full Reptile. “I can’t talk about it a lot right now. I’m sure me talking about it is the reason I’m here in the past. Who knows? Maybe I p*ssed someone off, I don’t know. All I know is since I was 12, 13 years old, I listened to Dana White do his interviews and explain what he wanted in a fighter, and I’m that motherf*cker.”
Now, at the UFC 260 press conference, White believes Gaethje still is a prominent player at lightweight. He also believes The Highlight could be next in line for the title shot.
“He fits very well in all this,” White said at the UFC 260 pre-fight news conference (h/t MMAJunkie). “After this plays out, he’s probably next in line. It depends on what happens with Dustin and Conor.”
Justin Gaethje has not fought since he lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title in October. Although he has been looking to fight, White believes Gaethje couldn’t be in a better position at lightweight.
“You know how that is. Timing is everything when these fights happen, how much damage did the guy who won take and what kind of personal sh*t does he have going on,” White said. “You know all that stuff factors into when the next fight would be, but Justin Gaethje couldn’t be in a better position.”
For now, Justin Gaethje is on the sidelines looking in awaiting his next fight.
