Justin Gaethje spoke out about the recent accusations of Michael Chandler. Gaethje is not pleased with Chandler – that much is clear.
Chandler (22-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) conducted an Instagram Live on Tuesday where he talked about his desire to get back in the octagon in December, with Gaethje (22-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) being the prominent name in mind.
The former three-time Bellator champion said, however, that Gaethje is avoiding a fight with him, and told the former interim UFC titleholder to be ready to “make a highlight or be made a highlight.”
Those words apparently traveled back to Gaethje, who took to social media on Wednesday and snapped back at Chandler and clarify his position (via Twitter):
“@MikeChandlerMMA is talking out of his ass. I was waiting for the bout agreement 3 weeks into camp and wake up to news his daddy Dana gave him the shot. He’s been out of commission since the KO. What am I missing? I’m on vacay and this fucker is slandering my name. 3-4 times?” Justin Gaethje wrote.
With his “daddy Dana” comment, Gaethje is referencing the fact that he thought he would be one-half of the vacant lightweight title fight at UFC 262 in May after Khabib Nurmagomedov vacated the title.
It was Chandler who got the slot opposite Charles Oliveira, though, and Oliveira went on to score a second-round knockout to claim the gold.
Chandler is keen to bounce back and get himself in another title fight, and Gaethje is seemingly eager to do the same after his submission loss to Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 in October.
Gaethje’s manager Ali Abdelaziz isn’t particularly interested in the fight, however, and recently told MMA Junkie that Chandler is undeserving.