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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Martin Domin

Conor McGregor's coach John Kavanagh "kicked out" of UFC 279 event after coaching fighter

SBG boss John Kavanagh has claimed he and his fighter Johnny Walker were thrown out of the T Mobile Arena following the fighter's win on the main card of UFC 279.

Walker ensured his future in the promotion by choking out Ion Cutelaba in the first round of the opening fight of the main card in Las Vegas. But having celebrated his win, Kavanagh, who also coaches Conor McGregor, then posted a picture on social media of himself and Walker leaving the arena.

Kavanagh wrote: "So, UFC just came and kicked us out. No tickets for us and not allowed stay back stage to watch. Pulled out back door, kicked out, not even [with] shoes on." He later posted a video of himself with his fighter back at their hotel with Walker still wearing his fight outfit. "So here we are back at the hotel, Johnny still has his gloves on, he didn't get a chance to get changed," he said.

Walker snapped a two-fight losing streak with his victory which was followed by a win for Irene Aldana who stopped Macy Chiasson with the first-ever liver kick KO from the ground. Li Jingliang then dropped a split decision to Daniel Rodriguez in the first of three fights put together at the last minute.

Jingliang was due to face Tony Ferguson in the co-main event but accepted a fight against Rodriguez who weighed in almost 10lb heavier on Friday. Ferguson instead headlined the card against Nate Diaz while Khamzat Chimaev choked out Kevin Holland in the new co-main event.

Kavanagh's star pupil McGregor has not fought since he broke his leg in the first round of his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier last summer. The former two-weight UFC champion had expected to return to the cage this year but will now not make his comeback before the spring.

McGregor is set to begin filming shortly for his Hollywood debut after being cast in a remake of Road House alongside Jake Gyllenhaal. The Dubliner has yet to resume full mixed martial arts training but has regularly posted footage of himself hitting pads on social media.

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