Justin Gaethje reignited his ugly war of words with Conor McGregor by calling him 'a piece of s---'
- Justin Gaethje said he loved seeing Conor McGregor get knocked out last month.
- McGregor was decisively beaten by Dustin Poirier on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
- Gaethje said it was great because McGregor is "a piece of s---."
Justin Gaethje reignited his ugly war of words with Conor McGregor with the American calling his rival "a piece of s---" during a no-holds-barred interview with ESPN MMA last week.
"I love seeing a loudmouth get knocked out," Gaethje told the sports broadcaster, reveling in the second-round loss McGregor suffered January 23 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The former two-weight UFC champion fought well in the opening round of his UFC 257 lightweight match against Dustin Poirier but came unstuck midway through the second when Poirier shellacked him against the fence, then left him bloodied and beaten on the canvas.
It took minutes for McGregor to recover after being knocked out cold, and he was then seen limping out of the venue and even required crutches as he attended a post-event media conference Insider attended on Fight Island.
"I don't feel bad for him," Gaethje said. "I'm happy for Poirier. I'm happy Poirier went out there and did his job and finished him."
It is not the first time Gaethje voiced animosity toward McGregor. He previously trashed the Irishman in 2019 calling him a "s--- father [and] human."
He also accused McGregor of avoiding an MMA fight with him despite numerous opportunities to make a match.
Last week Gaethje told ESPN: "There is nothing that makes me happier [than] seeing a piece of s--- get put down. That was great. I loved it."
Gaethje continued: "[Conor has] been treated special over and over and over and he didn't capitalize on this opportunity.
"That event was for him, that event was for him to win, and he wants to be Mr. Humble now? But, you know he would be an asshole if he won that fight."
Poirier's win elevated him to No.1 in the UFC's lightweight rankings, ahead of Gaethje who fell to No.2.
Industry rumors suggest Poirier could fight No.3 Charles Oliveira for the vacant championship, should Khabib Nurmagomedov vacate the belt after he retired as an undefeated king.
However, the McGregor team is pushing for a trilogy bout with Poirier - one that would have the title on the line.
"That would be preposterous," Gaethje said.
"For one, he's sitting at No.6. He's won one fight in his entire life in the lightweight division, and he picks and chooses who he fights. So I have no respect for him in that manner."
Read more:
UFC boss Dana White feared Calvin Kattar was bludgeoned so badly he could have died on Fight Island
Internet sensation Jake Paul's next boxing opponent is the former two-time MMA champion Ben Askren