John Kavanagh – Syndication Server

Coach John Kavanagh sees hunger in Conor McGregor, excited for his ‘inevitable return’ to UFC

Coach John Kavanagh assures Conor McGregor is making a comeback to the UFC.

ABU DHABI – Many have questioned [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s hunger at this point in his fighting career, but his coach [autotag]John Kavanagh[/autotag] assures it is still very much there.

McGregor, easily the most financially successful fighter in MMA history, has been sitting on the sidelines since he broke his leg against Justin Poirier in 2021. Many have questioned McGregor’s motivation and interest in fighting, given that he’s recovered from his injury and has yet to step back in the octagon.

But for Kavanagh, head coach of SBG Ireland, there’s no doubt McGregor is still game for fighting and sees the same level of hunger than when he started working with the Irishman back when he was just a teenager.

“What’s his motivation at this stage? I guess you have to ask him, but it’s definitely something I’ve wondered about,” Kavanagh told MMA Junkie. “When you’ve won the belt, and you’ve got all the money, what keeps you coming back? There’s only one thing that makes sense to me. If you can tell me something else, I’d love to hear it: You just love it. You just really enjoy it.

“If you take away somebody’s financial motivation for doing something, you really learn what they want to do. He didn’t pick up golf. He didn’t start doing fishing. He’s not someone to go on six-month type holidays. Wherever he goes, there’s a gym with him with his trainers and nutritionists. That’s been since the leg break. Nothing has changed since then. ”

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McGregor recently re-entered the USADA pool for anti-doping testing. He has yet to book a date for his return, but he’s expected to fight Michael Chandler, who he coached The Ultimate Fighter with on opposing teams, should he return to the UFC.

Some have gone as far as thinking that maybe McGregor never returns to fighting, given some of his lifestyle choices shown on his social media. However, Kavanagh is confident it’s just a matter of time until fans see the former UFC champion back in action.

“Just today, I sent him a message, and he sent me a message back on the mats rolling with a black belt where he is now,” Kavanagh said. “… He’s training away and very hungry. I’m looking forward to the return next year, whenever that date is. I don’t know where or when it is, but I am looking forward to that inevitable return.”

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John Kavanagh wants Dillon Danis to focus on MMA return: ‘He’s not a boxer’

SBG coach John Kavanagh hopes Dillon Danis will return to Dublin and shift his focus back to MMA after boxing Logan Paul.

ABU DHABI – SBG head coach [autotag]John Kavanagh[/autotag] hopes [autotag]Dillon Danis[/autotag] will shift his focus from YouTube boxing fights to making a run in MMA.

Danis is coming off a more-spectacle-than-sport boxing match against YouTuber and WWE SuperStar Logan Paul in the co-main event of Misfits Boxing: The PRIME Card in Manchester, England. It was a contest where Paul showed up to fight, but Danis had other plans as he taunted, pulled guard, shot for takedowns, and ultimately got himself disqualified by causing a massive brawl.

Coach Kavanagh hopes his pupil focuses on what he’s best at going forward.

“I say this with nothing but love for Dillon, he knows I love him: I’d love to see him just put the phone down for a minute, and come back to Dublin,” Kavanagh told MMA Junkie. “I’ve been torturing him come over to Dublin. I know he just had a wee baby, and we’re all excited about that. I’d love to see him come to Dublin again and just throw himself into training for mixed martial arts. He’s an MMA fighter, he’s not a boxer.”

In a series of social media posts following the event in England, Danis fired a two-word message that aligns with Kavanagh’s wishes: “UFC next.” Danis’ last professional MMA bout was in 2019 at Bellator 222, where he submitted Max Humphrey with an armbar in the first round. It was just his second pro MMA fight, which followed another first-round submission in his debut, which also came under the Bellator banner 14 months prior.

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The gap in his resume since his Bellator appearances can partially be attributed to a serious knee injury that required multiple surgeries. It was a situation that required him to go under the knife on more than one occasion to address the same issue as the procedures didn’t go as planned.

With all of that behind him, Danis appears ready to compete on a more regular basis, and Kavanagh hopes that means he will come back to SBG, or at the very least, just focus on MMA.

“He’s an MMA fighter, and exceptional when you see him in the gym. The guy’s never quite realized that he’s been very unlucky with a set of injuries, and this and that. I hope he got some good money out of boxing and put that in the trust fund for the kid, don’t be buying fancy shoes or nothing like that. Get back to my gym or another gym, wherever. Get the head down and show everybody what you can do in the cage.”

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John Kavanagh lauds ‘legitimate’ Charles Oliveira: Maybe Conor McGregor fights him eventually

John Kavanagh doesn’t think anyone should be discrediting UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira anymore.

[autotag]John Kavanagh[/autotag] doesn’t think anyone should be discrediting UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] anymore.

In his first title defense, Oliveira submitted Dustin Poirier in this past Saturday’s UFC 269 main event, rallying once again to score the finish.

Oliveira (32-8 MMA, 20-8 UFC) has been questioned about his toughness by the likes of Justin Gaethje and others, but Kavanagh, [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s head coach, thinks it’s about time people put respect on the champ’s name.

“What is he now? Ten wins in a row, most of them being finishes,” Kavanagh told MMA Junkie. “His standup is getting sharp now. He’s got wrestling. He knocked out Chandler then submitted Dustin. If anybody’s doubting Charles at this stage, they got to check themselves. That guy is legitimate, he’s the world champion, he’s a great fighter, and who knows, maybe we meet him down the road.”

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) already has expressed interest in challenging Oliveira for the title, sending the Brazilian a message after his win over Poirier.

McGregor is coming off back-to-back stoppage losses to Poirier and despite UFC president Dana White declaring Gaethje the No. 1 contender, the Irish superstar has called his shot for the title regardless. Kavanagh gave an update on McGregor’s leg injury, and he expects him to return to competition by next summer.

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Conor McGregor wants vacant UFC title at stake in Dustin Poirier trilogy, coach says

John Kavanagh says a title shot would keep Conor McGregor motivated, otherwise “maybe he drifts off into boxing.”

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] wants to run things back immediately with Dustin Poirier, according to SBG Ireland head coach [autotag]John Kavanagh[/autotag].

The former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion hopes to set up a trilogy fight with Poirier before the summer of 2021. McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC), who had beaten Poirier back in 2014, lost by second-round TKO in the rematch this past Saturday at UFC 257.

McGregor was stopped after wining the first round on all three judges’ scorecards. McGregor looked good early, connecting with some solid shots, but Poirier was able to manage, slow down McGregor with leg kicks, and then finish the Irish star in the second with a flurry of punches.

Now, just days removed from the rematch, McGregor is already thinking about the trilogy and settling the score.

“He’s already harassing everybody to get the rematch, so we would love to rematch,” Kavanagh told UFC broadcast partner ESPN. “I don’t think Dustin is against that. If we can get the rematch before summer, that would be amazing.

“If it’s not to be, then I guess I don’t really know. Maybe he (McGregor) drifts off into the boxing. So if the MMA community could help me out here, get behind me, and pester the UFC to give him another fight sooner rather than later – so I don’t lose him to boxing for six months – I would appreciate it.”

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McGregor doesn’t just want the trilogy, according to Kavanagh. He wants the third Poirier fight to happen with the vacant lightweight title on the line.

Currently, Khabib Nurmagomedov holds the belt at 155 pounds, but he retired back in October. UFC president DanaWhite has been persistent in persuading Nurmagomedov to walk back his retirement but admitted after UFC 257 that it was unlikely.

Kavanagh says the title shot would be big motivation for McGregor, adding that he believes it’s the right way to settle the score with Poirier.

“That’s the big drive,” Kavanagh explained. “It’s 1-1, they’re right up there in the rankings, they’re very popular fighters.

“I think the two of them are a beautiful matchup. Stylistically, it’s beautiful to watch. I’d love to see lots and lots of rounds between the two of them. Dustin is obviously riding high with confidence now with more experience and more weight. He took some of those shots. I’m sure his confidence is super high at the moment. We have to fix that technique with the leg and a couple of other things, as well, but Dustin vs. Conor 3 for the belt in maybe May, that would be amazing.”

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John Kavanagh: Conor McGregor loved the process of preparing for UFC 257 bout with Dustin Poirier.mp

John Kavanagh: Conor McGregor loved the process of preparing for UFC 257 bout with Dustin Poirier