Conor McGregor Could Face Justin Gaethje Next And Then The Winner Fights Khabib Nurmagomedov

Conor McGregor could face Justin Gaethje next and then the winner fights UFC lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov before the year's end.

ESPN reporter and MMA insider Ariel Helwani hasn't ruled out McGregor facing interim UFC lightweight champion Gaethje in the summer with the winner to take on Nurmagomedov for the undisputed crown.

"I'm not ruling out Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje. And then, the winner fights Khabib in the fall," he explained on ESPN.

Gaethje beat Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 to claim the interim UFC lightweight title.

UFC president Dana White said 'The Highlight' would face Nurmagomedov to unify the titles, but Helwani has suggested that McGregor could meet the American next.

McGregor has called for a showdown with Gaethje following his spectacular performance earlier this month.

"Justin, there is no danger in a man that hugs legs, we all know. Try and dance around what the real threat is here all you want. I am going to f**king butcher you. Your teeth. I'm going to put them on a f**king necklace. Speak on my skills as a father? You are f**king dead," he wrote on Twitter.

Gaethje wasted no time in hitting back as he tweeted: "Isn't it ironic that this dude is on his knees. Careful @TheNotoriousMMA you are losing your clout. @DustinPoirier is sitting there ready to go like I was for the last 3 years."

Common opponent and former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez is backing McGregor to knockout Gaethje if they face off in the Octagon.

Who takes it? Let us know.