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“I think a fight on July 11 would bring the UFC back to life and get everybody back on track.”
Although the UFC and the rest of the world has fallen on hard times due to the spread of coronavirus, SBG Ireland coach Owen Roddy is in good spirits and believes star pupil Conor McGregor could inject new life into the MMA world when he returns to the Octagon in July.
According to Roddy, the plan is to have McGregor return to the cage on July 11 against UFC lightweight standout Justin Gaethje, who has been calling out ‘The Notorious’ for the better part of a year.
“Most definitely. That’s the plan hopefully,” Roddy said in a recent interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani (h/t MMA Fighting). “Bring the UFC back to life as well with all these shows being cancelled and stuff like that, I think a fight on July 11 would bring the UFC back to life and get everybody back on track. So my fingers are crossed and I’m sure the rest of the world fingers are crossed for that fight.”
“Anyone to be honest but you know, maybe Gaethje,” Roddy said. “There is a lot of talk about Gaethje. I mean, he’s an exciting fighter, Gaethje. I would like to see it, I’m sure you’d like to see it, and I’m sure the rest of the world would like to see it. So yeah, potentially that, but to be honest, anyone. I know Conor is raring to go and everyone will be raring to go by the time July comes around.”
McGregor hasn’t fought since his first-round thrashing of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, which saw the Irishman finish ‘Cowboy’ with strikes just 40 seconds into the opening round. Gaethje, meanwhile, has been steadily climbing the UFC lightweight ranks since his TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC on FOX 29, notching three straight KO wins over James Vick, Edson Barboza and Donald Cerrone, finishing all men inside the first round.