Conor McGregor’s coach wants UFC legend to return against lightweight rival Justin Gaethje… at welterweight
CONOR McGREGOR’S trainer wants to see the former champion face lightweight rival Justin Gaethje in his next fight – but at welterweight. McGregor, 31, took 40 seconds to dispatch of American veteran Donald Cerrone, 36, on his cage comeback last Saturday. The Notorious was weighing a career heaviest 170lb on his return despite calling for […]
CONOR McGREGOR’S trainer wants to see the former champion face lightweight rival Justin Gaethje in his next fight – but at welterweight.
McGregor, 31, took 40 seconds to dispatch of American veteran Donald Cerrone, 36, on his cage comeback last Saturday.
The Notorious was weighing a career heaviest 170lb on his return despite calling for a rematch against lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov, who beat the Irishman in 2018.
McGregor wants a quick turnaround after his quick finish in Las Vegas, but his coach John Kavanagh would rather his man stay at welterweight and avoid a gruelling weight cut.
Kavanagh told ESPN: “Justin Gaethje at 170, that would be my personal preference, because he’s another lightweight.
“Neither of them have to cut weight and the goal – I’ll be careful with my words here – the kind of vision is to get that 155lb belt back so it’s a step towards that.
“I don’t see the reason for him to cut weight unless there’s a significant – there has to be a belt on the line.
“Otherwise, why would he do it? So yeah, stay at this weight, don’t cut weight and then when the big one comes along, shed the last 15 pounds.”
McGregor has the option to face Jorge Masvidal for the ‘Baddest Mother F***er’ belt at welterweight or face champion Kamaru Usman.
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But after already warning he will use 2020 for a “season” of three or four fights, Kavanagh revealed McGregor is almost certain to be back in the octagon before the summer.
He said: “I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t going to compete before the summer.
“There were talks of March or April so (he’s) definitely going to be competing before the summer.”