SBG Ireland head trainer John
Kavanagh is optimstic regarding the prospects for Conor
McGregor’s return to the UFC.
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The former two-division champion suffered a broken leg in a loss to
Dustin
Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021 and has been on the road to
recovery after undergoing surgery following that fight. Kavanagh
commented on McGregor’s prospects to BBC
Sport after the Irish star returned to jiu-jitsu class for the
first time in more than a year this past week.
“He’s healthy, happy and it’s great to have him back,” Kavanagh
said. “The last few sessions in the gym here were MMA-orientated —
he’s got the all-clear for that now.
“He did a great session last night, we got some great rounds in. He
hasn’t lost a beat and was looking great.”
There still isn’t a clear timetable for McGregor’s return, though
he has no shortage of potential opponents once he is ready to fight
again. Kavanagh didn’t mention a specific opponent for the UFC’s
biggest star, but the coach is confident that McGregor can compete
at either lightweight or welterweight.
“Trust me, I got to have a bit of a wrestle with him last night and
I felt it,” Kavanagh said. “When that silverback arm goes around
your neck there’s a bit of an extra squeeze there, so, he’s very
very strong at the moment.
“But look, when we get to the stage of looking at weight classes
and opponents there’s nobody more professional than Conor at making
weight and it will all be done properly.”
Kavanagh added that the McGregor who showed up to jiu-jitsu class
displays a far different attitude than the one with which most
fight fans are familiar.
“I always tell people, they see this kind of performance part of
his persona,” Kavanagh said. “It’s two or three times a year, at
the press conferences and it’s all very loud and glitzy and glamour
and entertainment, but it’s the 52-weeks-of-the-year guy that part
of me wishes some people would be more aware of.
“How he is walking on the mat, he gives a handshake to everybody,
and is always incredibly respectful towards me as a coach, saying ‘yes sir and no sir’, and lining up at the end of the class when
everybody bows down.
“He’s got that true kind of martial arts personality. He comes in
and approaches training with such a focus and positive energy, and
really puts everything into every drill. And then of course he’s
always incredibly generous with his praise, and it’s very well
received, he’s a very very special part of the gym, as a whole, and
I’ll say my life.”