Conor McGregor’s coach reveals fight he wants for UFC return as Notorious ramps up training for summer showdown
CONOR McGREGOR’S coach John Kavanagh has up to four names he would like the Irishman to fight in his UFC comeback.
McGregor is braced for a huge return to the UFC this year having spent the entire of 2022 sidelined.
But motivating the multimillionaire fighter to get back into training camp is among Kavanagh’s top priority.
He said on The MMA Hour: “What matters to me is that, let’s say I’m seeing Conor this week and we’re chatting and he says a few names and I see a name particularly gets the eyes open, particularly gets his pacing up and down the living room and showing me what he’s going to do and what he’s not going to do.
“That would be absolutely the most important thing for me, is that it’s a name that’s going to excite him.
“Because for Conor, for training for this next fight, he’s definitely got to find something that’s massively motivating to him to get him out of the silk pants and into the sweaty gym.
“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 championship belts. Is that it? I don’t think so. So I think it’s more going to be a particular opponent, a particular skill set and how it matches up against him.”
McGregor, 34, has not fought since July 2021, when he broke his leg in the first round of his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier, 34.
The chaotic ending has led to both men opening the door to a sensational fourth fight against each other, with both owning knockouts wins.
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Michael Chandler, 36, has also emerged as a frontrunner to fight McGregor due to his electric and thrilling style.
Old rival Nate Diaz, 37, who despite leaving the UFC will always be an option for a trilogy decider with the pair tied at one apiece.
Even Justin Gaethje, 34, has thrown his name into the hat following years of back and forth with McGregor.
But Kavanagh said: “You’ve got the great Nate Diaz is obviously in there.
“Justin Gaethje would be a very interesting matchup, somebody he hasn’t fought before. The Poirier fight, we’ve done that so many times at this stage and it’s just a weird one.
“Michael Chandler, a great fighter, a great athlete. They’re all brilliant. They’re all going to bring something different to the contest.
“What I would be looking for would be the one name that gets Conor moving. Gets him off his stool, gets him moving around and gets him excited.
“Some of the names I’ve heard him mention it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, I’d fight him,’ but if I see that level of lack of interest, I’d be nervous that won’t get him through 12 weeks of being in a very tough environment where if it’s a name that is exciting then training is fun and training is easy.”