Conor McGregor's coach believes the former two-weight champion will come back better than ever when he returns to the UFC - and believes he could fight this year.
The Dubliner has been out of action since suffering a horror leg break in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier last July, but he has missed only a handful of days training since then.
And despite an endless supply of money and a life of luxury, McGregor's head coach John Kavanagh says 'The Notorious' is more focused than ever, and is eyeing up another run to the top of the UFC rankings.
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"Conor's recovery is going really well, I just spoke to him a couple of days ago," Kavanagh exclusively told The Irish Mirror.
"What might be shocking to a lot of people is that probably in the last year he’s missed maybe five or six days of training. And everytime I say that people roll their eyes and go ‘Ah I’ve seen him on Instagram.’ But Instagram catches a glimpse of every other day.
"But when it comes to day-to-day training, he’s missed a handful of days in the last year. He’s not lost a step in his time away. In fact if anything he might’ve gained a step.
"I’m really excited for him to come back completely refreshed, obviously physically healing up but mentally to be ready to go on another run which, he doesn’t seem to be in any way shape or form even thinking about retirement.
"I’m sure people will get to see him at his best when he comes back."
In the past, Kavanagh has spoken of his desire to see the 33-year-old retire at the top of his game before injuries take their toll. After the Khabib Nurmagomedov fight in 2018, Kavanagh even broached the subject with McGregor.
"Conor and I certainly had our differences about that at the time," Kavanagh recalls.
"But I suppose I was coming at it from a point of view that he had achieved all that you could in terms of winning the belts and the money. That was the sort of thinking with combat sports that you’ve done all of that, now it’s time to move on.
"But move on to what? With Conor, it was always drifting back to him still wanting to do the sport, still wanting to compete. Him being at his physical and mental best when he has goals and fights coming up, it seems to be what kept him in the best state of mind.
"I’m reminded of BT Sport when they did a cartoon to his words, that when he’s walking towards the cage, he feels like he’s unshackling himself of all these media obligations and everything that comes along with fighting at a high level, and that he felt free as he stepped in the octagon that was his most fun place to be.
"He wants that fight to last as long as possible. So from conversations with him and being around him a long time, I’ve come around to understanding that’s how he is and it’s him at his physical and mental best. So look, the body’s well able for it, he’s obviously hurt his leg in that last contest. But besides that he has very little wear and tear on him
"As long as it's fun, enjoyable and safe, we’ll keep going."
McGregor has long been the single biggest and most profitable star in the UFC by some distance.
He holds numerous records, but Kavanagh would like to see him challenge to become a champion at a third different weight by fighting for the welterweight belt, which is currently held by Kamaru Usman.
McGregor has long hinted at a desire to win the 170lbs belt and become the first three-weight champion in UFC history, an accomplishment that Kavanagh feels is within reach.
He explained: "From a decade or so of watching him make predictions and following through on them, I’m a believer. He burst into the gym and went ‘I’m gonna be in the UFC in a couple of years ‘I’m gonna win a belt’ and then ‘I’m gonna challenge Aldo'.
"And Aldo, it’s easy to forget he was a ten year undefeated champion at this stage and generally regarded as the undisputed pound for pound best. And Conor mowed through him.
"Every prediction he makes he follows through. Look, I’ve been proven wrong so many times so whatever Conor says, I’m gonna put money on it."
So when might McGregor make his long awaited return? A summer fight seems impossible at this stage and despite everyone from Justin Gaethje to Jake Paul calling out the father of three, the UFC have remained tight-lipped on McGregor's fighting future.
Kavanagh said: "When will he be back? Well, there’s your million dollar question.
"I don’t know, I’d love to see him before the end of the year. Is that possible? Step one, let’s get back into the gym, let’s get back moving around with MMA sparring partners doing MMA drills, at the minute he’s doing stability work, strength and conditioning, non-fighting related stuff.
"But as soon as we can get that going again and just get that rhythm, and timing, I don’t think it will take a huge amount of time to get him from that to competition."
- John Kavanagh was speaking exclusively to The Irish Mirror as part of his work with the Alta Warrior Training Programme, which is launching in gyms across Ireland
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