UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje has launched a foul-mouthed tirade in the direction of Conor McGregor in the wake of his defeat against Dustin Poirier on Sunday. ‘The Notorious’ was stopped inside two rounds at UFC 257, with Poirier avenging his loss in 2014 and setting up a trilogy fight with the result.

McGregor sealed a quick-fire knockout when the pair first met seven years ago, but looked a long way off troubling his opponent in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

The 32-year-old started off well, winning the first round on the scorecards, but was quickly broken down by Poirier who used a series of debilitating leg kicks to chip away at the former two-weight UFC champion.

With McGregor’s lower leg taking severe punishment, the American steamed in to finish the fight in the second round with a flurry of unanswered punches.

His victory seems to have ended McGregor’s hopes of facing undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov later this year, with a third fight against Poirier now understood to be the Dublin-born lightweight’s preferred option.

The Russian comprehensively beat McGregor in their 2017 title clash, and was rumoured to be considering ending his retirement if he was seriously impressed by events in Abu Dhabi, but the chances of such a bout happening now appear to be slim to none.

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Gaethje is another to have unsuccessfully faced the wrath of Khabib, having been forced into submission during the latter’s final fight in October.

The American has revealed his reaction to McGregor’s shock defeat against Poirier, telling the controversial Irishman in no uncertain terms that he was thrilled to see him hit the canvas.

“I think he [McGregor] is an elite fighter,” Gaethje told ESPN. “What do they got him ranked at, six? I think he should be ahead of Tony [Ferguson] in the rankings.

“But for him to come out and say he wants a title shot next, a rematch versus Poirier, and his coach, they are f****** idiots.

“He’s been treated special over and over and over, and he didn’t capitalise 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 a****** if he won that fight.

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“So I don’t feel bad for him. I’m happy for Poirier. I’m happy Poirier went out there and did his job and finished him.

“I love seeing a loudmouth get knocked out. There is nothing that makes me happier. Seeing a piece of s*** get put down, that was great, I loved it.”

Gaethje is known to harbour a dislike for McGregor despite the fact they have never clashed in the ring.

The Colorado-based fighter has launched a number of thinly-veiled digs at his divisional rival in previous years, notably referring to the Irishman as a ‘crackhead’ in 2019 after a video surfaced of the star appearing to punch an elderly man in an Irish pub.

Gaethje has now claimed that he would walk away from the sport if McGregor is handed a title shot later this year by Dana White.

“I will never fight for the UFC again,” he added. “I probably shouldn’t say that. I would probably think about never fighting in the UFC if he fights for a title, that would be preposterous.

“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.

“I have no respect for him in that manner. But yeah, I’d like to fight him. I don’t think it will be my next fight. He isn’t going to fight me.

“He just got his legs kicked off. I kick legs better than anybody in the UFC.”