Daniel Cormier thinks Justin Gaethje should focus on the title, not Conor McGregor.

Gaethje (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) caught McGregor’s attention after he knocked out Dustin Poirier and claimed the “BMF” title Saturday in the UFC 291 main event.

Gaethje wasn’t warm to the idea at first, but then called for McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) to sign on the dotted line. But Cormier says a title fight is all Gaethje should think about because it’s an opportunity that may not come again.

“Title fight – it’s title fight or bust for me,” Cormier said on “DC & RC.” “This guys needs to be able to fight for a championship because that’s all he did, and that’s all he wants to do. He said last week or last time he fought against (Rafael) Fiziev that it was one more run at a championship opportunity. Well now, that is happening. It’s happening right now, the ability to fight the winner of (Charles) Oliveira vs. (Islam) Makhachev, and I think he’s better prepared for it now.

“Because when you watch him in the Fiziev fight, and you watch him in the fight last weekend (vs. Poirier), this guy is a better version of himself and he said for the first time, he had no nerves. He said that’s why he was looking into the crowd, trying to find a way to make himself feel something. He was so at ease and calm inside the octagon. But, he is the No. 1 contender and rightfully so.”

Related

Is Demetrious Johnson retired? The MMA legend gives update on status of fighting career

Lando Vannata off UFC on ESPN 51 due to injury

Cormier sees a lot of improvements from Gaethje since he fell short in title fights against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. “The Highlight” is coming off back-to-back wins over Rafael Fiziev, and Poirier, where he showed off a more composed version of himself.

“He’s the guy that should be challenging for a championship, and he’s also a guy that took a round from Khabib Nurmagomedov,” Cormier said. “So if he did that, you imagine he has the ability to go do the same to Islam Makhachev, but trying to apply some of the lessons that ultimately cost him to the fight against Makhachev, or Oliveira – the guy he hurt very bad the first time they fought.”

Related

MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month for July: Justin Gaethje floors Dustin Poirier for ‘BMF’ belt

Michael Chandler: Justin Gaethje will become UFC champion, beats Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira

Nate Diaz: Conor McGregor beats Michael Chandler, should fight Justin Gaethje instead

BMF Justin Gaethje: Conor McGregor challenge exciting, but ‘I’m not going to fight someone on steroids’

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.