Conor McGregor ‘pumped’ for UFC comeback against Michael Chandler as coach reveals he’s still ‘obsessed’ with fighting
UFC superstar Conor McGregor is super “pumped” about his return to the octagon.
The Notorious will be welcomed back to the cage by fan favourite Michael Chandler later this year.
McGregor hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021 and is champing at the bit to get back in action.
During an appearance on The Sheehan Show, head coach John Kavanagh said: “I’ll be honest, that was part of the… I won’t say worry for me.
“But what will be the level of motivation when you’ve achieved the titles, you’ve achieved the money?
“Man, I’ve never seen him as pumped as I’ve seen him recently.
“I’m just really excited. He’s excited to be back. I’m excited to have him back.”
Former two-division champion McGregor has only fought in the octagon four times in the last six years.
But Coach Kavanagh has no concerns about his fellow Irishman’s commitment after seeing his eagerness to fight Chandler.
He said: “I have zero concerns about motivation.
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“The motivation is to show everybody that this is his world, this is his game – he absolutely loves it.
“He’s got a lot going on in his life, but I can message him any time, day or night, with a sequence and go, ‘Hey, what do you think about this?’
“‘And I’ll get an immediate reply because he’s still obsessed with the sport. I haven’t seen that interest wane at all.”
McGregor is buzzing to be back after his near two-year hiatus, telling The Daily Mirror: “I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to it.
“I feel good. I feel energetic. I feel ready. You know, I’m throwing up my high kicks faster than I’m throwing out my jab.
“So I’m very excited to get back.”
McGregor and Chandler, 34 and 36 respectively, will trade leather after filming season 31 of the long-running reality TV show the Ultimate Fighter.
Filming for the show is set to get underway in the coming weeks, with the first episode airing in May.
A date for the fight hasn’t been announced and currently hinges on when McGregor re-enters the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing pool, which he must be in for six months before competing.
A venue for the fight has yet to be decided, with UFC president Dana White recently saying: “People were asking me earlier about the Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight and [wondering] where it’s going to be.
“We don’t know yet, we’re kind of working that out.
“But to go to [AT&T] Stadium, you have to have the right fight.
“Conor and Chandler are doing The Ultimate Fighter this year. They’re coaching it.
“And it’s the first time it’s going to be on ESPN the network — which will make the fight even bigger.
“Dallas, [AT&T] Stadium is a possibility. They’re in the running for the fight.
“When you look at a fight of that magnitude, you have to look at Madison Square Garden, obviously Vegas .
“Which we could do the stadium there, or T-Mobile Arena —[Allegiant] Stadium, or you could do a massive stadium in London.”