Conor McGregor coach wants to see former UFC champion face Nate Diaz as he offers career update

The Irishman remains in retirement but he’s repeatedly hinted at making a return to the sport

Conor McGregor’s coach has suggested that the former UFC two-weight world champion could come out of retirement having ‘rediscovered his love for the sport’.

Following his defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov in October, the Irishman announced earlier this year that he was hanging up his gloves.

Ten days later he appeared to perform a U-turn on his original decision, tweeting: “I want to move forward, with my fans of all faiths and all backgrounds. All faiths challenge us to be our best selves. Now see you in the Octagon.”

Now, coach John Kavanagh has hinted that McGregor could be back sooner rather than later.

“When he won the second belt when he beat Eddie [Alvarez], he’d achieved everything he set out to achieve, Kavanagh told ESPN.

“He was very wealthy, he was world champion. So you’ve got to then take some time and think, well, what’s going to motivate you to do it any more?’

Kavanagh added: “He said himself that that became a bit of a problem. What is it? Is it getting another belt? Is it make some more money?

“And I think what has come back around is the love of the sport. He loves doing it, he loves training [and] he loves competing. And legacy, that he’s remembered being one of the best, if not the best ever.

“So that’s what’s really come back into him since the beginning of the year. That’s what I wanted to see.

“You wouldn’t want to see him doing something just for the sake of doing it and maybe getting hurt or whatever because he’s not fully there. But now he absolutely is.”

When asked who he’d like to see McGregor fight next, Kavanagh pointed to a third bout between the Irishman and Nate Diaz.

Diaz choked out his opponent at UFC 196 before McGregor went on to win the rematch at UFC 202.

Kavanagh said: “I always loved the Diaz trilogy, I’ve kind of said that from the start. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Nate looks in his fight coming up.

“Honestly if it’s Conor excited, motivated, and pushing himself hard, it doesn’t really matter all that much to me.

“Anybody in the UFC that Conor McGregor would be fighting are good opponents, they have different challenges. If you put a gun to me, it would be the Diaz trilogy.”