Conor McGregor’s longtime head coach John Kavanagh of SBG Ireland says the former two-division champion is looking so big in his recovery that he might just return to the UFC as a middleweight. Kavanagh told Submission Radio that McGregor’s recovery is going better than expected, and it’s full steam ahead for the Irishman’s 2022 return.
“He’s going to be back in the gym, he’s going to be back on the mats now in the next couple of weeks with me. He’s doing a lot of strength training at the moment. The guy is jacked. I think he’s coming back as a middleweight!
McGregor to Return As Middleweight: John Kavanagh
But he’ll be back on the mats with me now shortly and we’ll start off with combat sports training again. And, he’s getting some, um… I always have to choose my words carefully here, but look, we’ll start with drills.”
McGregor is apparently chomping at the bit to get back to combat training. “I actually joked with him, I said, ‘look, I’d rather if we just start off with some techniques, some drills, let’s see how you’re going’. And he’s like, ‘no, I’m going to do five by five, that’s what I’m coming back to do’.
And I’m like, oh, great, you know, we’re straight into full combat training again. But, he’s very enthusiastic, very upbeat, very excited to attack 2022. And I’m not sure when he’ll be back, but he’ll be back.”
Of course, with Conor McGregor’s reputation, he’ll have no shortage of potential opponents. There’s the ever-present threat of the Diaz trilogy fight, potential lightweight bouts, and maybe even a move up the divisions to somewhere heavier. Welterweight and middleweight may well be options for a heavier, stronger Conor McGregor to take on a surprise opponent: a rematch with UFC featherweight Max Holloway.
“The funny thing is, I think for guys at Conor’s level and Max’s level and those guys, I don’t even really know why they bother cutting weight anymore, you know?
It’s almost like, just let them fight. Cause I’d imagine Max is probably heavier than Conor outside of fighting. I’ve heard stories of him getting up to really high weight. So, why would they agree to fight and then spend eight weeks trying to deplete themselves, trying to get them down to some weight class to fight for some belt?
Max has had a few belts, Conor’s had a few belts. So, they’ve done that. Push that to one side. I don’t know if that’s important anymore. Just have them fight at their weight, whatever their weight is. Just let them do it! Whatever weight they are, let’s go.”
Do you think Conor can fight at a higher weight class? Let us know in the comments.
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