Conor McGregor has been out of the UFC Octagon since 2021. The MMA superstar was set to make his return this year after TUF 31 against Michael Chandler. However, circumstances involving McGregor’s absence from the UFC athlete testing pool led to the fight being canceled. And now his coach, John Kavanagh, has come out with a statement that provides more clarity on the ‘Notorious’s long-awaited comeback!

Kavanagh, head coach at SBG Ireland, recently spoke about McGregor’s return plans. Despite his hiatus from the sport, McGregor remains one of the most popular MMA stars on the planet. And with Kavanagh’s comment indicating a new weight class for the Irishman, fans will be interested to see the new version of McGregor in action soon!

Conor McGregor and changes to his weight class revealed by Coach Kavanagh

The former UFC ‘champ-champ’ has had a rough road to recovery that involved surgeries and a lengthy rehabilitation process. Despite the roadblocks, McGregor was set to return against Michael Chandler after the conclusion of TUF 31. But the proposed fight fell through as USADA declared McGregor ineligible to compete due to mandatory drug testing protocols.

However, McGregor recently claimed that he had submitted his samples for testing. The news, subsequently was followed by the announcement of the UFC and USADA parting ways. And the UFC CEO, Dana White, ahead of UFC 295 in New York noted that the UFC is looking for McGregor’s return in 2024.

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John Kavanagh has now revealed that McGregor will be competing in the welterweight division when he returns. He highlighted the similarity in size between McGregor and potential opponents at 170 pounds on an episode of The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. Kavanagh stated, “You know, 170, they both are (McGregor and Chandler), you see them beside each other they’re both very very similar.”

Kavanagh expresses skepticism about the weight-cutting process in MMA, particularly when fighters quickly return to their original weight class. He emphasizes the need for a clear purpose in the decision to change weight classes. Kavanagh explained, “There are different trains of thought out there but I think for Conor now, it’s like well, why am I cutting 20 pounds to go back up 20”

And his coach has also revealed that the Irishman is training hard to add another win to his record when he makes his eventual UFC comeback!

McGregor is back in training for his comeback

Conor McGregor’s prolonged absence from the Octagon has raised questions about his motivation to compete. Despite frustration over the delayed return, Coach John Kavanagh emphasizes McGregor’s dedication to training. He stated, “At least he’s getting training in, and that’s so important… you’re enjoying your training at the moment, let’s just keep that going.”

McGregor’s last win dates back to UFC 246 in 2020 against Donald Cerrone, followed by consecutive losses to Dustin Poirier. A broken ankle in their last encounter has contributed to a more than two-year hiatus for the ‘Notorious’.

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McGregor’s tendency to call out opponents without confirmed fights has also garnered criticism from fans and fighters during his time off. Although the exact return date for McGregor remains uncertain, fans and the combat sports community eagerly anticipate his comeback as a significant event.

Do you think Conor McGregor will be able to snap his losing streak with a change in weight divisions? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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