Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh just revealed some names who could duke it out with him on his UFC return. The “Notorious” one has been out of action since he broke his leg at UFC 264. However, everyone’s hoping to see him back in the octagon this year.
Kavanagh was interviewed on The MMA Hour where he hinted who the Irishman could face. The coach said that he’s interested to know which opponent excites McGregor the most.
“Let’s say I’m seeing Conor this week and we’re chatting (hypothetically) and he says a few names. And I see a name particularly gets the eyes open and particularly gets him pacing up and down the living room,”
Kavanagh said that McGregor will fight whoever motivates him to train the most. He alluded to the ‘silk sheets curse’ having got the best out of the former two-division champion.
“Because for Conor training for his next fight, he’s definitely got to find something that’s massively motivating to him, you know, that’s going to get him out of the silk pants and into the sweaty gym.”
He feels like McGregor already has everything that a fighter dreams of.
“What’s it going to be, a couple million more? Is that really going to motivate him? I don’t think so. He has a couple of championship belts already (five to be exact) and is that it? I don’t think so.”
The only thing that can get McGregor back in the cage is a challenge or someone with a style that complements his fighting skills.
“So I think it’s more (so) going to be a particular opponent, a particular skill set and how it matches up against him.
Regarding the possible competitor, he gave us some names, starting with “the great Nate Diaz,”. Diaz is the first person to beat McGregor in the UFC and their second has been voted as the ‘best in UFC history’. Everyone would love to see a third happen.
The coach also name-dropped Justin Gaethje. Gaethje had his UFC rise around the same time as McGregor but the two have never locked hands. A couple of months ago, it was speculated that McGregor will make his return against Gaethje, but nothing came of this.
“Justin Gaethje I think would be a very interesting match up, someone he hasn’t fought before.”, said Kavanagh.
He dismissed the idea of McGregor going up against Dustin Porier for the fourth time as it has happened “so many times at this stage and it’s just a weird one.”
Finally, he mentioned Michael Chandler, who he thinks is a “great,”
Kavanagh feels like “they’re all brilliant, they’re all going to bring something different to the contest.”