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Conor McGregor’s Coach Reveals His Surprise Pick For UFC Star’s Next Opponent

Conor McGregor’s Coach Reveals His Surprise Pick For UFC Star’s Next Opponent

Irish MMA coach John Kavanagh has said that UFC superstar Conor McGregor will 'most likely' return to the octagon before the summer.

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

Conor McGregor's coach wants the UFC superstar to snub Jorge Masvidal or Kamaru Usman as his next opponent in favour of Justin Gaethje.

McGregor, 31, made his long-awaited return against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 last Saturday and secured a sensational first-round TKO victory.

The Irishman now turns his attention to a long list of rivals, which includes Masvidal, Usman and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

But John Kavanagh believes that his fighter should face Gaethje, who has previously called out McGregor in a heated rivalry.

McGregor's coach went on to suggest that Gaethje, who is No 3 in the UFC's lightweight rankings, would need to face the 'Notorious' at 170lbs in a welterweight fight.

"Justin Gaethje at 170 would be my personal preference," Kavanagh told Ariel Helwani's MMA Show on Monday.

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"Because he's another lightweight, but neither of them have to cut weight.

"The vision is getting that 155lb belt back, so it's a step toward that.

"I don't see the reason for him to cut weight unless there is a belt on the line, otherwise why would he do it.

"Stay at this weight, don't cut weight and then when the big one comes along, shed the last 15 pounds."

McGregor, who wants to fight three times in 2020, has had a heated rivalry with BMF champ Masvidal and could set up a mega-showdown for later this year.

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And Kavanagh suggested that he has no final say in his fighter's next opponent, despite wanting him to face Gaethje.

He explained: "Sure and who knows? It could be that [Masvidal].

"It'll be [McGregor's manager] Audie [Attar], Conor and the UFC who make those decisions, I'll just be in the background with the spit bucket."

According to Kavanagh, McGregor will most likely return to the octagon before the summer.

PA

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The 43-year-old Irishman reiterated that the 'Notorious' is ready to step in if the showdown between Khabib and Tony Ferguson falls through again.

"Before the summer? I'd be very surprised if he wasn't going to compete before the summer," Kavanagh said.

"There was talk of March or April, so I don't know about this 'before the summer' -- he's definitely going to be competing before the summer.

"I think what makes sense is that we get ready, we prepare for the April fight [between Khabib and Tony Ferguson], if one of those guys is unfortunate enough to make the fight then we're ready to go.

"If those guys make it then schedule one for within a few weeks of that, then you're on the same schedule as those guys for a couple of months after that."

Featured Image Credit: PA/ESPN

Topics: Conor Mcgregor, Justin Gaethje, Notorious, UFC News, MMA News, John Kavanagh, UFC, MMA