John Kavanagh | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

Conor McGregor coach John Kavanagh teases UFC star’s Long-Awaited Return Date

Conor McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, has revealed that the former two-division titleholder is gunning for a return to the…

Conor McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, has revealed that the former two-division titleholder is gunning for a return to the Octagon in the first half of 2024.

If this timeline turns out to be true, McGregor will compete for the first time in nearly three years. The last time fight fans saw the Irishman strap on the four-ounce gloves, it was for a trilogy bout with lightweight rival Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

“We have no date set yet, but within the first half of next year he’ll definitely have his comeback,” Kavanagh told talkSPORT.

McGregor has long been linked to a comeback fight against ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler after the pair competed against one another on the 31st season of The Ultimate Fighter earlier this year. Originally rumored to headline UFC 296 in December, the bout was pushed back to a TBD date in 2024 after the Irishman failed to re-enter the USADA testing pool for a required six months of pre-fight screening.

Conor McGregor Doesn’t Care if His Next Fight is this Saturday or at UFC 300

McGregor has since jumped back in the pool leading many fans to speculate that he would make his comeback at UFC 300 in April.

“Conor just wants to fight,” Kavanagh stated. “If you offered him a fight this Saturday, he’d take it. If it’s UFC 300, great!”

Since capturing the lightweight title against Eddie Alvarez in 2016, Conor McGregor has only seen his hand raised once following a quick finish to UFC Hall of Famer Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in 2020. Overall, he has lost four of his last five, including a loss to legendary pugilist Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather in a crossover boxing bout in 2017.

“We just wanna get back in there, get busy, and hopefully get a few fights together, Kavanagh added.”

UFC star Conor McGregor receives Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt ahead of return: ’20 years of hard work’

Former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion, Conor McGregor has been gearing up for a potential Octagon return against MIchael Chandler before the end of the year – and during his current training camp, the Dubliner has received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt from long-time head coach, Straight Blast Gym technician, John Kavanagh. McGregor, 35, a […]

McGregor, 35, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined from the Octagon since he headlined UFC 264 back in July, suffering a fractured left tibia and fibula in a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss against former interim titleholder, Dustin Poirier.

However, in recent weeks, McGregor has staked his claim for a return to the Octagon as soon as UFC 296 at the end of the year, with the promotion’s final pay-per-view event of the year slated to take place on December 16.

Linked with a welterweight fight opposite former lightweight title challenger and The Ultimate Fighter 31, Chandler, McGregor, who has returned to his native Dublin over the course of last week following a stay in Cannes, France – took in some sparring with undefeated compatriot and surging UFC welterweight contender, Ian Machado Garry.

Conor McGregor wrapped with BJJ black belt ahead of UFC return

And following a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu session at Straight Blast Gym HQ in Dublin last night, the Crumlin native was awarded with a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt by head coach, Kavanagh, noting how the process to being strapped with the accolade has exceeded 20 years.

“Received my black belt tonight from my coach, friend, and mentor @coach_kavanagh of @sbgireland!” Conor McGregor posted on his official Instagram account. “20 years of hard work! Thank you John for everything over the years, and to all of my teammates throughout this incredible Jiu-Jitsu journey! Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart!”

“A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, wow!” Conor McGregor continued. “Praise be to Go and then Helio. I’ll be in the GI in it tomorrow Helio, I promise, and I cannot wait!! What a buzz.”

Do you expect Conor McGregor to make a return to the UFC this year?

Coach expects Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler fight to resemble Chad Mendes win: ‘It’s an exciting one’

Straight Blast Gym head coach, John Kavanagh has briefly broken down his student, Conor McGregor’s expected UFC return against lightweight contender, Michael Chandler later this year – explaining how he expects the matchup to resemble the Dubliner’s 2015 fight with Chad Mendes, where he clinched the interim featherweight championship. McGregor, a former undisputed UFC lightweight […]

McGregor, a former undisputed UFC lightweight and featherweight champion, touched down in Las Vegas, Nevada yesterday, as he prepares to begin filming The Ultimate Fighter 31 against the above-mentioned, Chandler, with the duo expected to fight at the finale of the reality television show.

Conor McGregor landed in Las Vegas this week to begin filming for TUF

Yet to officially book a date for their pairing, Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler, who are expected to fight at the welterweight limit of 170lbs, have been floated for a potential September clash.

In the midst of a two-fight losing skid to common-opponent, Dustin Poirier, McGregor’s next Octagon outing will come as the first since he fractured his left tibia and fibula en route to a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss back in July 2021.

As for Chandler, the Missouri veteran also suffered his most recent defeat to Poirier – who submitted the former with a third round rear-naked choke at UFC 281 in November at Madison Square Garden.

Previewing his product’s return against Chandler later this year, the above-mentioned Kavanagh explained how he believes the Dubliner’s fight with the former could very well resemble his 2015 interim featherweight title triumph over Mendes.

“I think it (Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler) could resemble a little bit the (Chad) Mendes fight,” John Kavanagh told Sherdog. “Mendes was that style; blocky guy, (with) big punches, (with) big double legs. I think that’s how it could go. Conor (McGregor) has a good record against those kind of orthodox, stocky wrestlers with big overhand rights and big double legs.”

“It’s an exciting one to prepare for,” Kavanagh explained. “Chandler – he’s an excellent fighter, he’s got a great résumé.”

Headlining UFC 189 against Mendes at the MGM Grand back in 2015, McGregor rallied after finding himself on the receiving end of multiple takedowns in the first and second round, to finish the Team Alpha MMA staple in the final seconds of the second frame, capturing the interim featherweight title.

John Kavanagh Compares Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler To Classic Featherweight Bout

Conor McGregor’s coach and SBG head honcho John Kavanagh recently gave a very interesting take on ‘The Notorious’ vs. Michael Chandler. After more than 18 months away from the Octagon, a Conor McGregor return is finally in sight. The …

Continue Reading John Kavanagh Compares Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler To Classic Featherweight Bout at MMA News.

MMA Coach John Kavanagh Offers To Train Ireland’s National Police Service

Conor McGregor’s longtime MMA coach, John Kavanagh, recently offered his services to Irish law enforcement. The President of the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association responded to a tweet from Simon Harris. Harris, the Minister for Justice of Irel…

Continue Reading MMA Coach John Kavanagh Offers To Train Ireland’s National Police Service at MMA News.

Conor McGregor’s Coach On Whether Islam Makhachev Can Outdo Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Legacy

It almost seemed written in the stars that after Khabib Nurmagomedov retired on top of the lightweight division, Islam Makhachev would take over in his place. What wasn’t predictable at the time was that Makhachev would go on to be arguably the best fighter in the sport today. The current lightweight champion has been so […]

Continue Reading Conor McGregor’s Coach On Whether Islam Makhachev Can Outdo Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Legacy at MMA News.

It almost seemed written in the stars that after Khabib Nurmagomedov retired on top of the lightweight division, Islam Makhachev would take over in his place.

What wasn’t predictable at the time was that Makhachev would go on to be arguably the best fighter in the sport today.

The current lightweight champion has been so impressive since winning the belt at UFC 280 that it has led to the conversation of whether he’s better than “The Eagle” ever was.

Another big question is whether Makhachev will ever be able to overtake his close friend’s legacy after Nurmagomedov retired with an undefeated record of 29-0.

Though there isn’t competition between them, the 32-year old was always going to have high expectations hanging over him.

John Kavanagh Outlines How Islam Makhachev Can Potentially Overtake Khabib Nurmagomedov

Though Makhachev doesn’t have the option of beating Nurmagomedov’s undefeated run, there are ways that he can accomplish feats that the former champion didn’t.

The current 155-pound king has spoken a lot about wanting to move to welterweight in the near future though those plans seem to have been put on hold now that Belal Muhammad, who does parts of his camps with Makhachev and Nurmagomedov, has become the 170-pound champion.

In a recent interview with Islam Babadzhanov, John Kavanagh gave his take on if and how Makhachev can pull out in front of “The Eagle”.

The long-time coach of Conor McGregor at SBG Ireland also pointed to the lightweight champion adding a second belt to his collection which Nurmagomedov never had the option to do.

“Wow. I’m sure there is [a chance for him to outdo Khabib] but it’s hard. You know, Khabib had obviously such a fantastic run. Maybe Islam can do a ‘champ champ’ and go up some weight classes. We will see.”

Continue Reading Conor McGregor’s Coach On Whether Islam Makhachev Can Outdo Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Legacy at MMA News.