Michael Chiesa says a fight between Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje is the only thing in MMA that could compete with UFC Freedom 250’s White House event in terms of scale and viewership, provided McGregor gets past Max Holloway at UFC 329.
Chiesa spoke on The Bohnfire podcast with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn.
Let’s say Conor McGregor beats Max Holloway, what better fight is there to do right now from a viewing standpoint? Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje, if Conor beats Max Holloway, does it get much bigger than that right now? That is the matchup to make in terms of bringing in eyes. It’s the only thing that can compete with the White House, is Gaethje and Conor.
McGregor returns from a five-year absence on July 11 at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, where he faces Holloway at welterweight. Gaethje shocked the world by defeating Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 to unify the lightweight title — a result that has opened up a range of big-money scenarios for his first title defense.
McGregor has acknowledged he considers himself a 170-pound fighter going forward and has not publicly targeted a return to lightweight, though Israel Adesanya and others have floated McGregor vs. Gaethje as one of the most commercially attractive fights available in the sport.