John Kavanagh News

Conor McGregor
John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh says Conor McGregor is no longer motivated by money, names four opponents who could get him “out of the silk pajamas”

Harry Kettle - January 24, 2023

John Kavanagh has listed a handful of possible opponents who could tempt Conor McGregor to return to the Octagon. For so long now, fans have been watching and waiting to see if and when Conor McGregor would return. He appears to have recovered from his broken leg, with the only question being who he will fight upon returning.

John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor
John Kavanagh

Coach John Kavanagh gives Conor McGregor training update: "He hasn't lost a beat"

Josh Evanoff - July 15, 2022

Former UFC dual-weight champion Conor McGregor is looking great in training according to John Kavanagh. ‘The Notorious’ has been out of the cage since his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier last July at UFC 264. That outing saw McGregor lose via TKO, due to a broken leg he suffered in round one. The brutal injury has left the former champion sidelined for over a year.

Charles Oliveira, Conor McGregor, UFC
Conor McGregor

John Kavanagh reacts to potential Conor McGregor vs. Charles Oliveira fight: "That's one that's gonna get the goosebumps going"

Christopher Taylor - December 18, 2021

John Kavanagh has reacted to a potential fight between his pupil Conor McGregor and reigning UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. Shortly after ‘Do Bronx’ earned his first career title defense with a third round submission victory over McGregor’s arch rival Dustin Poirier, ‘Notorious’ took to social media with the following question.

John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor
John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh lists six opponents that Conor McGregor could fight in his UFC return

Christopher Taylor - December 6, 2021

John Kavanagh has named six opponents that his star pupil Conor McGregor could fight in his highly anticipated UFC return. McGregor (22-6 MMA) has not competed since suffering a broken leg during his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier this past July. That setback marked the Irishman’s second loss in a row and third in his past four fights overall.

Gunnar Nelson
John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh wants to see Khamzat Chimaev fight his pupil Gunnar Nelson next

Adam D Martin - November 24, 2021

MMA coach John Kavanagh says that he wants to see top welterweight prospect Khamzat Chimaev fight against his pupil Gunnar Nelson next. Kavanagh, who is of course the longtime head coach of UFC superstar Conor McGregor, took to his social media on Tuesday to make a matchmaking suggestion to the UFC. As far as the coach goes, he believes that a fight between Chimaev and Nelson would make a lot of sense. With the UFC rumored to be holding an event in London in March, Kavanagh believes this would be the ideal situation to hold this potential fight between Chimaev and Nelson. Take a look below at what the coach said about this potential welterweight fight.

John Kavanagh, Dillon Danis, Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor

Dillon Danis, John Kavanagh react to Conor McGregor's knockout loss

Tom Taylor - January 25, 2021

Dillon Danis and John Kavanagh, two of the most important people in Conor McGregor’s inner circle, have reacted to his loss to Dustin Poirier. McGregor met Poirier in the main event of UFC 257 on Fight Island last Saturday. The pair’s lightweight showdown was a rematch of a 2014 fight that McGregor won by first-round knockout. This time around, Poirier evened the score, ruining McGregor’s lead leg with calf kicks, and stopping him with punches in round two.

Conor McGregor, John Kavanagh, Khabib Nurmagomedov
Dustin Poirier

John Kavanagh: Dustin Poirier has already felt Conor McGregor's KO power

Adam Martin - December 27, 2020

Coach John Kavanagh wants the MMA community to remember that Dustin Poirier has already felt Conor McGregor’s knockout power in the past. McGregor and Poirier meet for the second time next month at UFC 257 on UFC Fight Island. The first time these two fought was back in September 2014 at UFC 178. That fight was almost seven years ago and it was down at featherweight. Both men are different fighters now and both are now fighting up at lightweight. It’s why some analysts believe that Poirier has a much better chance to win the rematch this time.

John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor
John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh slams Claressa Shields for telling MMA fans to "bow down"

Tom Taylor - December 9, 2020

Famed MMA coach John Kavanagh has some choice words for boxing star Claressa Shields, who recently told MMA fans to “bow down” to her. Shields is widely regarded as the best female boxer in the world, and is slated to make her MMA debut in the PFL cage in 2021. Ahead of her debut, Shields is demanding respect from MMA fans for being bold enough to make the transition between sports.

John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor
John Kavanagh

Coach Kavanagh says fighters have pulled him aside to say: "I might not like your boy, but we should all be sending him 5%"

Chris Taylor - July 2, 2020

Coach Kavanagh claims that a few UFC fighters have pulled him aside at events to send their appreciation to his ‘boy’ Conor McGregor for “changing the game”. John Kavanagh’s claim came shortly after Dustin Poirier suggested that he credited his defeat to McGregor as the reason for his career resurgence.

Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez
John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh says Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje was 'close to being done'

Fernando Quiles - June 29, 2020

Head coach John Kavanagh claims Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje was close to materializing. Gaethje has been on a tear since dropping back-to-back bouts against Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez. “The Highlight” is riding a four-fight winning streak. In that span, he’s beaten Tony Ferguson, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Edson Barboza, and James Vick.

John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor
John Kavanagh

Coach John Kavanagh reveals the first thing he looks at in a potential fighter

Natasha Hooper - June 16, 2020

Coach John Kavanagh has revealed the first thing he looks for in a potential fighter, and his answer may surprise you. The Irish mixed martial arts coach rose to fame following the success of his student, Conor McGregor. Kavanagh was instrumental in McGregor’s wins and eventual championship reigns. He is also the coach for other MMA stars like James Gallagher, Gunnar Nelson and Makwan Amirkhani.

John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor
UFC

John Kavanagh open to lightweight tournament when UFC resumes

Adam Martin - April 10, 2020

MMA coach John Kavanagh is interested in seeing the UFC hold a tournament for the lightweight title upon resumption if its fight schedule. All upcoming UFC events are postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The UFC interim lightweight title bout between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje, which was set to take place at UFC 249, was one of the fights affected by the postponements. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, two of the UFC’s biggest stars, also won’t be fighting anytime soon on account of the UFC schedule currently being on hiatus.

John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor
John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh dreams of bringing UFC and Bellator titles to SBG Ireland

Mike Pendleton - March 19, 2020

John Kavanagh has been the head coach of SBG Ireland since 2001, and most fans know him as the coach behind Conor McGregor. Yet he’s far more than just that.

John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor
John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh talks the evolution of Conor McGregor: “He’s trying to make himself a better person."

Natasha Hooper - February 19, 2020

Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh acknowledges major mistakes made by his fighter, but says he is “proud of how he’s come through those things.” “The Notorious” returned to the UFC Octagon this year for the first time since his UFC 229 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov. He faced Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in his comeback and bulldozed his way to victory in just 40 seconds of the first round.

Conor McGregor
John Kavanagh

Coach: Conor McGregor is 'on a good comeback story' after 'slips and mistakes'

Tom Taylor - February 19, 2020

Conor McGregor has had a crazy few years. While he’s had some big moments of success — most notably his 40-second, January knockout of Donald Cerrone — he’s also made his way into the headlines for numerous brushes with the law.

John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor
UFC

John Kavanagh feels UFC 247 was a clear victory for Jon Jones

Adam D Martin - February 9, 2020

Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh said on his social media that he felt Jon Jones clearly deserved to win the decision against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. In one of the most controversial title fight decisions in recent years, Jones edged out a narrow unanimous decision victory by scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46. It was an extremely close fight that was fought tooth-and-nail by two of the best light heavyweights in the world, but most including UFC president Dana White seemed to side with Reyes earning the decision. The judges, however, awarded Jones the win, something which Kavanagh agrees with.

Conor McGregor, John Kavanagh, Khabib Nurmagomedov
John Kavanagh

Coach refutes notion that Conor McGregor support has dropped off

Tom Taylor - January 13, 2020

For a time, Conor McGregor was the biggest sporting star in Ireland, and arguably one of the most popular athletes in the world. After a couple of losses and a long list of troubles outside the cage, however, there is a widespread perception that the Irishman’s popularity has died down, even on the Emerald Isle. Not so, says long-time McGregor head coach John Kavanagh.

Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez
John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh believes potential fight between Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje 'stylistically suits Conor'

Cole Shelton - January 8, 2020

John Kavanagh believes Justin Gaethje is a good stylistic matchup for Conor McGregor. The Irishman in Conor McGregor has been open about 2020 being a season and it begins with Donald Cerrone. After that, he has mentioned possible opponents like Jorge Masvidal and Justin Gaethje who is on his “list.”