Conor McGregor's Coach Makes A Very Surprising Prediction For Donald Cerrone Fight

John Kavanagh has predicted Conor McGregor will pick up a late victory over Donald Cerrone at UFC 246.

We're less than two weeks away from McGregor's octagon return and he'll face off with 'Cowboy' in the main event in Las Vegas.

And in a recent interview with The Mac Life, coach Kavanagh has stated the 31-year-old could buck the trend and pick up a late win.

"I think it's going to be late," Kavanagh said.

"I could see it in the championship rounds. That's the mindset that I personally have - to be ready for that. Now, he could spark him in seconds. But I think there's a little extra weight involved, so I think in the later rounds."

It's an interesting prediction to make as it'd be the first time McGregor picks up a stoppage victory past the 10-minute mark of a fight.

Although McGregor has gone the distance against Nate Diaz (five rounds) and Max Holloway (three rounds) in recent years, the 31-year-old's latest stoppage came against Chad Mendes in 2015.

Kavanagh has also discussed McGregor's mindset heading into his big return.

He dubbed 'Notorious' as one of the smartest fighters he's ever worked with.

With Conor's fighting IQ, with Conor's understanding of the game, really, this training camp is about all of us getting out of his way," Kavanagh explained.

"Provide him an environment where he gets different looks, different feels, and support him. Where he wants the training camp to go, with intensities, and listening to him - where he has days where he has days where he wants to push hard, and days where he wants to slow down.

"It's not so much about us coaches sitting down to game plan and then filling Conor in. Conor knows more about fighting than the rest of us put together."

The Irishman has cut a determined figure in the lead up to this fight, but Kavanagh says his motivation involves love, rather than rage.

"It's different than the motivation being revenge," Kavanagh said. "The motivation here seems to be love, and love is stronger than revenge."

It seems that his three fight plan for 2020 could come to fruition if he maintains this motivation.

Topics: Donald Cerrone, Conor Mcgregor, UFC 246, John Kavanagh, UFC

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a freelancer journalist for SPORTbible and covers a variety of sports. He also has past experience of working at Manchester United and once locked eyes with Jose Mourinho. He lived to tell the tale.

@DanMarland1998x