At present, all of Justin Gaethje’s focus is directed at his Saturday night opponent, Dustin Poirier. That being said, the former World Series of Fighting lightweight champ also has some very real beef with rising lightweight contender James Vick.

Gaethje went off on Vick in a recent interview with MMAJunkie, veering off topic to share his thoughts on the towering Texan.

“I’m very thankful for this opportunity [to fight Poirier],” he said. “I could be fighting some turd like James Vick—fucking crybaby that never shuts up.”

Gaethje then elaborated on his beef with Vick, explaining that it all stems from Vick’s previous comments about him.

“That dude needs to get slapped,” the former WSOF champion said. “He called me a bitch on the Internet, so when I do see him, I’m going to slap the fuck out of him. I am not happy with him.

“It’s like seeing a little kid that just won’t shut up because their parents won’t spank him. It gets old.”

James Vick is currently one of the fastest rising contenders in the UFC lightweight division, having won nine of his last ten bouts. The Texan recently cemented his place as a top-15 talent with a unanimous decision defeat of dangerous Brazilian Francisco Trinaldo.

Gaethje, meanwhile, enters his bout with Poirier having recently lost for the first time as a pro. This loss was dealt by former Bellator and UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, who turned him off with a third-round knee. This loss was preceded by a flawless, 18-0 start to his professional career.

What do you think of Justin Gaethje’s comments on James Vick? Would you be interested in a fight between these two lightweight stars sometime down the road? Join the conversation in the comments section below.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 4/12/2018.