Conor McGregor coach John Kavanagh confused by UFC’s ‘Weird’ handling of the megastar’s anticipated return

Conor McGregor coach John Kavanagh confused by UFC's 'weird' handling of megastar's anticipated returnNot even Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh knows why it’s taking so long for the UFC to book his…

Conor McGregor coach John Kavanagh confused by UFC's 'weird' handling of megastar's anticipated return

Not even Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh knows why it’s taking so long for the UFC to book his return to the Octagon.

McGregor has been sidelined ever since suffering a leg injury in the UFC 264 main event in July 2021. Last year, the former two-division champion began hyping up his quote-unquote “greatest comeback in combat sports history” — something that has been rumored for UFC 296 last December, UFC 300 on April 13, and most recently, June 29 when the promotion wraps up International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

Conor McGregor

During his appearance on The MMA Hour alongside Alta business partner Rich Chou, Kavanagh was inevitably asked for his take on the situation with Conor McGregor and why it’s taking so long for the UFC to book a fight with MMA’s biggest name.

As it turns out, Kavanaugh is just as clueless as the rest of us.

“I won’t pretend to know the politics and what’s going on with legal stuff in the background,” Kavanaugh said. “All I know is it seems odd that we’re not getting [any news]. Like I said, I really am speaking from a position of ignorance because I actually try to purposefully avoid all of that.

“[McGregor’s manager] Audie [Attar] and the team, they do all that, they go back and forth with Hunter [Campbell] and the UFC team. But yeah, it’s weird to me for someone to be the star he is and not get more opportunities” (h/t MMA Fighting).

UFC Fans can get their Conor mcGregor fix on March 21

Conor McGregor is the highest-grossing athlete in UFC history, accounting for eight of the 10 biggest pay-per-view buyrates of all time. He has played a pivotal role in the promotion’s continued growth and mainstream appeal, which will undoubtedly come in handy when the UFC heads back to the negotiating table as their broadcast deal with ESPN is set to expire at the end of 2025.

‘Mystic Mac’ is also set to make his feature film debut this week (March 21) when Amazon Prime Video releases its remake of the 1989 action classic Road House. Taking over the role originally played by the late Patrick Swayze, Road House stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a former UFC fighter who takes a job as a bouncer at a roadhouse in the Florida Keys.

McGregor plays Knox, one of the film’s antagonists.

Conor McGregor

“Look, I’m going to meet him either this evening or certainly tomorrow for the movie, and trust me, that’s why I half-jokingly say to journalists, ‘You know as much as me,’” Kavanagh said. “They all think, ‘Go on, give me the inside scoop.’ I’m seeing the same clips pop up that you guys do.

“Conor’s traveling so much and my head’s down so much with what’s happening day to day, I’m not really every day on to Conor, ‘Hey, what? I’ve seen an interview.’ He’ll come to me when the fight’s announced, but I will be asking him.”

Despite Conor McGregor and John Kavanagh’s insistence that they are both ready, UFC CEO Dana White has continued to place the blame on his cash cow, claiming that McGregor’s immense wealth is the root of his delayed absence.

McGregor disputed that claim during an appearance at the Road House premiere earlier this month, stating that his return is being “pushed back” by the UFC and that it is beginning to affect his motivation.

Conor McGregor plans ‘Real trilogy’ fight with Dustin Poirier this year: ‘That is a huge bout right now’

Conor McGregor eyes unfinished fight with Dustin Poirier let's be real it's a must UFCConor McGregor wasn’t surprised that Dustin Poirier knocked out Benoit Saint-Denis, despite being a sizeable underdog. Poirier was coming…

Conor McGregor eyes unfinished fight with Dustin Poirier let's be real it's a must UFC

Conor McGregor wasn’t surprised that Dustin Poirier knocked out Benoit Saint-Denis, despite being a sizeable underdog.

Poirier was coming off a KO loss to Justin Gaethje and many were writing off ‘The Diamond’ heading into UFC 299. However, after a rough first round, Poirier scored a second-round KO win over Saint-Denis in a statement-making performance.

Conor McGregor confirms return fight is set for UFC 303 in June against Michael Chandler
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

Despite Poirier being the sizeable underdog, McGregor says he wasn’t surprised to see his rival win as the Irishman says he thought the American would win.

“It was good to see [Dustin] Poirier get that win at the weekend, that makes this the quadrilogy – we’ll say the ‘real trilogy’, [that would] really to finish it and put an end to it, that is a huge bout right now…I anticipated that the result would go that way and I was happy to see it, and that’s a great one for sure,” McGregor said to TalkSPORT.

It is interesting that Conor McGregor was picking Dustin Poirier due to the rivalry, but the Irishman is hoping he can face the American again.

Dustin Poirier calls for title fight with Islam Makhachev in June after shocking KO win at UFC 299
Mandatory Credit: Megan Briggs

Of course, McGreor’s last fight was against Poirier in July of 2021 when he broke his leg at the end of the first round, after being knocked out by the American that January.

Conor McGregor looking to return

Conor McGregor has been campaigning to make his return to the Octagon for quite some time.

McGregor has not fought since July of 2021 when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier. The Irishman appears to be healthy and has been campaigning to return for a couple of months now with no luck.

Conor McGregor says no to Hall of Fame entry for Dustin Poirier he's done f*ck all UFC

The hope for McGregor is to fight in June against Michael Chandler and then in September against Nate Diaz. However, Dana White has shut that idea down, so for now, it’s uncertain when McGregor will fight again.

UFC megastar Conor McGregor declares his ‘iconic rivalry’ with Nate Diaz ‘must be settled’ in trilogy fight

UFC megastar Conor McGregor declares his 'iconic rivalry' with Nate Diaz 'must be settled' with trilogy fightIt’s been nearly eight years since Conor McGregor last stepped inside the Octagon with Nate Diaz. Fighting one another…

UFC megastar Conor McGregor declares his 'iconic rivalry' with Nate Diaz 'must be settled' with trilogy fight

It’s been nearly eight years since Conor McGregor last stepped inside the Octagon with Nate Diaz.

Fighting one another in back-to-back bouts between March and August of 2016, McGregor and the ‘Stockton Samurai’ delivered two of the UFC’s top 10 highest-grossing pay-per-view headliners of all time, the first going down at UFC 196 inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Stepping in on just 11 days’ notice, Diaz handed the Irishman his first loss inside the Octagon, scoring a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz

Five months later, they would run it back at UFC 202 — this time going the distance with McGregor earning a victory via majority decision.

Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz

Ever since that night, fans have been clamoring for a trilogy fight between the two combat sports icons.

Recently, Diaz commented on McGregor’s long-awaited return to the Octagon which sparked a response from the former two-division champ on Instagram, suggesting that their “iconic rivalry must be settled.”

Conor McGregor's Instagram stories

Nate Diaz steps back into the boxing ring on June 1

Currently, Nate Diaz is not under contract with the UFC. After 15 years with the promotion, he walked away in September 2022 after earning a submission victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. He has since made his professional boxing debut against YouTuber star Jake Paul. Diaz lost the bout by unanimous decision after 10 entertaining rounds.

On Saturday, June 1, Diaz will return to the boxing ring for a scrap with former foe Jorge Masvidal. The fight will serve as a rematch following their fight for the inaugural BMF belt at UFC 244 in 2019. ‘Gamebred’ took home the bragging rights belt due to a doctor’s stoppage just before the beginning of the fourth round.

Diaz vs. Masvidal

Conor McGregor’s ‘Road House’ remake hits Amazon Prime Video on March 21

As for Conor McGregor, the Irishman has had a frustrating year when it comes to getting back inside the Octagon. Despite kickstarting multiple training camps, the UFC has failed to lock down a date for his quote-unquote “greatest comeback in combat sports history.” McGregor was linked to a fight with former Bellator MMA champion Michael Chandler long before their time as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter last year.

Unfortunately, we appear to be no closer to seeing that fight happen than we were during this same time last year.

On March 21, fight fans can get their McGregor fix when ‘Mystic Mac’ makes his feature film debut in a remake of the 1989 action classic Road House, which starred the late Patrick Swayze. Set for a release on Amazon Prime Video, this updated version stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Dalton, an ex-UFC fighter who takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse.

McGregor is set to play Knox, one of the antagonists of the film.

145-pound king Ilia Topuria ready to close the book on Conor McGregor’s legendary UFC career: ‘It is time’

145-Pound king Ilia Topuria ready to close the book on Conor McGregor's iconic UFC career: 'I believe that it is time'Ilia Topuria hopes to be the one to close out Conor McGregor’s final chapter in the UFC. ‘El Matador’…

145-Pound king Ilia Topuria ready to close the book on Conor McGregor's iconic UFC career: 'I believe that it is time'

Ilia Topuria hopes to be the one to close out Conor McGregor’s final chapter in the UFC.

‘El Matador’ sent shockwaves through the UFC fanbase with a stunning second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to claim the featherweight world title.

Ilia Topuria defeats Volkanovski at UFC 298

Since then, Topuria has been angling for a big-money fight with Irish megastar Conor McGregor.

Despite his recent callouts, Topuria made it clear that he has nothing, but respect for McGregor and what the former two-division champion has done for the sport. However, the new 145-pound king says it’s his turn to take the reigns and he plans to start by closing the book on McGregor’s storied career.

“First and foremost, in terms of making our sport known, he is the perfect character,” Topuria said during a recent interview in his home country. “My goal right now is to expand the sport. I want to expand the sport as much as I can and the more people know about it, the better it is. It is the work that I want to do, and precisely for the new generation, for myself, and for the sport — which is what I do, and the passion and love that I have for it.

“He represents a chapter in MMA and I believe that it is time for that chapter of that season to close and a new one to begin. I do think that fighting him, beating him would be like leaving him in the season behind.”

ilia Topuria confirms talks are already underway for the uFC’s first event in Spain

Immediately following Ilia Topuria’s title-winning performance last month, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that the promotion would begin discussions for an event in Spain where Topuria resides. Asked for an update on those plans, ‘El Matador’ revealed that talks are already well underway.

“We have a meeting at noon to carry out the entire UFC Spain project,” Topuria said. “It is a fairly complex project, but steps are being taken. If it is going to be Conor, I don’t know. It wouldn’t surprise me at all. And if it’s not him, I’ll fight someone else and I think that Conor will already be in the season behind.”

Ilia Topuria

As for when we could see the UFC head to Spain for the first time in its 30+ year history, Topuria offered a potential timeline.

“I would start counting from summer onwards,” he added.

Though no official details have been revealed, all signs point toward the event going down inside Santiago Bernabéu — the iconic home stadium of Real Madrid since its completion in 1947.

Ilia Topuria to potentially fight at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid

With his win over Alexander Volkanovski in Anaheim, Ilia Topuria moved to a perfect 15-0 in his mixed martial arts career with his last seven victories coming inside the Octagon. He has finished all, but two of his opponents, including five knockouts and eight wins by way of submission.

Even if Topuria can’t lure Conor McGregor into a fight, he has a host of contenders waiting for an opportunity at the top of the featherweight division — chief among them being Brian Ortega who is coming off a big win against former interim champion Yair Rodriguez in February. And, of course, there’s always Max Holloway, a former champion and perennial contender who currently sits as the No. 2 ranked fighter in the weight class.

145-pound king Ilia Topuria ready to close the book on Conor McGregor’s legendary UFC career: ‘It is time’

145-Pound king Ilia Topuria ready to close the book on Conor McGregor's iconic UFC career: 'I believe that it is time'Ilia Topuria hopes to be the one to close out Conor McGregor’s final chapter in the UFC. ‘El Matador’…

145-Pound king Ilia Topuria ready to close the book on Conor McGregor's iconic UFC career: 'I believe that it is time'

Ilia Topuria hopes to be the one to close out Conor McGregor’s final chapter in the UFC.

‘El Matador’ sent shockwaves through the UFC fanbase with a stunning second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to claim the featherweight world title.

Ilia Topuria defeats Volkanovski at UFC 298

Since then, Topuria has been angling for a big-money fight with Irish megastar Conor McGregor.

Despite his recent callouts, Topuria made it clear that he has nothing, but respect for McGregor and what the former two-division champion has done for the sport. However, the new 145-pound king says it’s his turn to take the reigns and he plans to start by closing the book on McGregor’s storied career.

“First and foremost, in terms of making our sport known, he is the perfect character,” Topuria said during a recent interview in his home country. “My goal right now is to expand the sport. I want to expand the sport as much as I can and the more people know about it, the better it is. It is the work that I want to do, and precisely for the new generation, for myself, and for the sport — which is what I do, and the passion and love that I have for it.

“He represents a chapter in MMA and I believe that it is time for that chapter of that season to close and a new one to begin. I do think that fighting him, beating him would be like leaving him in the season behind.”

ilia Topuria confirms talks are already underway for the uFC’s first event in Spain

Immediately following Ilia Topuria’s title-winning performance last month, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that the promotion would begin discussions for an event in Spain where Topuria resides. Asked for an update on those plans, ‘El Matador’ revealed that talks are already well underway.

“We have a meeting at noon to carry out the entire UFC Spain project,” Topuria said. “It is a fairly complex project, but steps are being taken. If it is going to be Conor, I don’t know. It wouldn’t surprise me at all. And if it’s not him, I’ll fight someone else and I think that Conor will already be in the season behind.”

Ilia Topuria

As for when we could see the UFC head to Spain for the first time in its 30+ year history, Topuria offered a potential timeline.

“I would start counting from summer onwards,” he added.

Though no official details have been revealed, all signs point toward the event going down inside Santiago Bernabéu — the iconic home stadium of Real Madrid since its completion in 1947.

Ilia Topuria to potentially fight at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid

With his win over Alexander Volkanovski in Anaheim, Ilia Topuria moved to a perfect 15-0 in his mixed martial arts career with his last seven victories coming inside the Octagon. He has finished all, but two of his opponents, including five knockouts and eight wins by way of submission.

Even if Topuria can’t lure Conor McGregor into a fight, he has a host of contenders waiting for an opportunity at the top of the featherweight division — chief among them being Brian Ortega who is coming off a big win against former interim champion Yair Rodriguez in February. And, of course, there’s always Max Holloway, a former champion and perennial contender who currently sits as the No. 2 ranked fighter in the weight class.

Nate Diaz unleashes stunning tirade on UFC contracts: ‘They want you to die before you get out’

Nate Diaz hits out at UFC contracts in tirade They want you to die before you get outFormer lightweight championship challenger and perennial UFC star, Nate Diaz has hit out at the current contract structure under…

Nate Diaz hits out at UFC contracts in tirade They want you to die before you get out

Former lightweight championship challenger and perennial UFC star, Nate Diaz has hit out at the current contract structure under the banner of the promotion – as well as leaping to the defense of two-time opponent, former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor who appears to be on ice, currently.

Diaz, a former welterweight contender and one-time lightweight title chaser under the banner of the Dana White-led organization, completed his contractual obligations officially back in November 2021, departing with an impressive win.

Nate Diaz ruled from UFC 300 return despite links to MMA comeback He isn't on that card
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Headlining UFC 279 that September prior, Stockton native, Diaz turned in a spectacular fourth round guillotine choke submission win over former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson in the pair’s impromptu welterweight main event fight.

Since making a professional boxing debut, The Ultimate Fighter winner, Nate Diaz made his first venture to the ring in a 10-round fight with social media star, Jake Paul in August of last year, suffering a one-sided unanimous decision loss.

Nate Diaz set to fight Jorge Masvidal in boxing rematch in Inglewood on June 1

Slated to make his sophomore outing in the ring later this summer, Diaz is set to fight fellow former UFC title challenger, Jorge Masvidal in a rematch of their 2019 Octagon battle, in Inglewood, California. 

Nate Diaz defends Conor McGregor’s absence from UFC

And expressing his interest in a return to mixed martial arts at UFC 306 in September at the Las Vegas Sphere as part of a monumental event for the organization, Diaz has hit out at the way contracts are laid out – ahead of a massive antitrust suit coming down the tracks in the coming weeks, claiming the UFC would rather a fighter “die” before fighting elsewhere whilst under contract.

Conor McGregor provides new update on UFC return negotiations are ongoing I'm eager for a return
Mandatory Credit: Kate Green

“This was me for years before Conor (McGregor) even got here [the UFC],” Nate Diaz posted on his X account, in response to outcry from Conor McGregor regarding a lack of activity on a planned return to the sport. “They want u to die before u get out these contracts it’s up to u to make something pop no one gonna help you but you. Free Conor it’s at [St.] Patty’s Day in this b*tch.” 

Sharing his displeasure with a failed return to the Octagon back in December of last year in January, McGregor revealed he had stopped a rigorous training regime as a result, and cited a lack of motivation as a long-anticipated return continues to hit roadblocks.

What are your thoughts on Nate Diaz’s latest outburst against the UFC?