Conor McGregor: Coach defends lengthy hiatus, makes very promising return statement
CONOR MCGREGOR’s lengthy hiatus from the Octagon has been defended by his head coach John Kavanagh.
McGregor, 29, hasn’t set foot inside the cage since claiming the UFC’s lightweight title 19 months ago at UFC 205, where he became the promotion’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion.
His time on the sidelines led to the UFC brass stripping him of the 155lbs crown, which he was relieved of in April.
Ireland’s first UFC belt holder has been criticised by many for enjoying the fruits of his labour too much.
Kavanagh believes the criticism of McGregor’s break from action has been somewhat unwarranted and believes the fact he’s taken time away from the fight game to focus on his ventures outside of the cage is normal for an ageing fighter.
"I think it's the normal evolution of a guy from his early 20s, approaching 30," Kavanagh told ESPN.
"But don't get me wrong. I am, first and foremost, an MMA fan. That's what got me into this. I think Conor is one of the greatest fighters of all time.
"The selfish side of me is probably shoving him in the back a little more. I want to make sure he's set, which he is more than set.
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The selfish side of me is probably shoving him in the back a little more
“I’m his coach, I've invested a lot of time and energy, and you want to see that skill set used in the sport.”
Prior to his sabbatical, McGregor was one of the most active fighters on the UFC roster, fighting at least twice a year.
And Kavanagh has refused to rule out 'The Notorious' returning to his old ways.
He added: “If he so wished, if he was driven to do it and said, 'I've got the other side of things on lockdown, I'm confident with that.
“Let's do another three-year stretch of fighting three times a year,' he could easily do that from a physical point of view, as long as he found the motivation.
"You best believe I'd be behind it. I'd love it. It's so much fun. The experience of training him and coming out [to Las Vegas] for a couple weeks.
“The lead-up and buildup, the fight. There's just a different feel to a Conor McGregor fight."
McGregor’s representatives are currently in talks with the UFC brass over the Irishman’s proposed bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov, his successor at the summit of the lightweight division.
A date for the bout hasn’t been publicly discussed, but it’s expected to take place by the end of the year.