Conor McGregor news: Coach John Kavanagh will think twice before working with UFC star again

McGregor’s long-term coach, John Kavanagh, has suggested the Irishman is entering the final stages of his career and should now start snubbing smaller fights

Tuesday 11 December 2018 14:16

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Khabib jumps out the Octagon after beating Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor’s long-term coach has suggested the UFC two-weight world champion may now be entering the final phase of his career.

John Kavanagh has worked with McGregor for his entire mixed martial arts career, but has admitted he would need to be convinced to return to the Irishman’s corner for particular fights going forward.

McGregor, 30, made UFC history when he defeated Eddie Alvarez to become the first fighter in the history of the promotion to hold titles in two weight divisions simultaneously, but has lost his last two fights.

He was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather in his professional boxing debut last year, before returning to the Octagon in October 2018 only to lose to Khabib Nurmagomedov in a lightweight title fight.

And Kavanagh has said he does not want to see McGregor risk himself unnecessarily in second-rate fights now that he is entering the final stages of his professional MMA career.

Conor McGregor's most controversial moments

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1/13Conor McGregor's most controversial moments

The Irish superstar is no stranger to controversy. Here are twelve occasions in which he generated headlines for all the wrong reasons.

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McGregor came in for criticism from some quarters for wearing a poppy at a UFC event back in 2015. “I know where my allegiance lies and what I do for my country,” was his firebrand response. “You have a pint in your hand and a Celtic jersey on in your local. F*** you and the Queen.”

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One of the first serious controversies in McGregor’s career. “Kiss them feet, Nazi,” he tweeted German fighter Dennis Siver. His apology also came in for criticism: “Ich bin bin sowwy. Now about them feet…” he wrote.

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“I own this town, I own Rio de Janeiro,” McGregor told Brazilian fighter Jose Aldo, in a series of heavily criticised comments. “In previous times I would invade his favela on horseback and would kill anyone who wasn’t fit to work, but we’re in a new time, so I’ll whoop his ass instead.”

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McGregor decided he did not have the time to fulfil his press duties ahead of UFC 200, and his scheduled rematch with Nate Diaz. UFC president Dana White was unimpressed with his no-show at a press conference and decided to pull him from the card. McGregor and Diaz would eventually meet at UFC 202, with the Irishman taking a points decision.

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McGregor has been in trouble for throwing things before. Ahead of UFC 202 he became involved in a heated altercation with the Diaz brothers, which culminated in him hurling full cans of energy drink across a press conference. He was subsequently fined $25k by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and handed 25-hours community service.

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There were a number of controversial moments during the Mayweather vs McGregor world press tour, with the UFC champion accused of racism on more than one ocassion. He attracted criticism for telling Mayweather to “dance for me, boy!” before later reasoning he was not a racist because “I’m black from the bellybutton down.”

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Showtime Spots executive Stephen Espinoza was less than impressed when McGregor turned his ire to him during the Mayweather vs McGregor world tour. “While we’re at it, f*ck Showtime too,” McGregor shouted at Espinoza in Toronto. “Look at you, you little f*cking weasel, I can see it in your eyes, you’re a f*cking bitch. Cut my mic off? Cut the champ’s mic off? Hell no. You f*cking weasel.”

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After his team-mate Charlie Ward defeated John Redmond at a Bellator event in Dublin, McGregor vaulted into the cage and began arguing with respected referee Marc Goddard. McGregor pushed Goddard and threatened an official, before eventually apologising. “I’ve always learned from my mistakes, and this will be no different,” he said.

The Irishman was heavily criticised when television cameras overheard him referring to Andre Fili as a “f****” after the American beat his training partner Artem Lobov at UFC Gdansk. “I’m human; I slip up, I say stupid things every damn day,” McGregor later apologised. “All I can (do) is hold my hand up and apologise if anyone was offended.”

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A warrant for McGregor’s arrest was issued after the Irishman was caught on video smashing the window of a bus full of fighters with a sack trolley. Two fighters were injured in the incident, with McGregor eventually handing himself in to the police. He was eventually sentenced to three days of anger management courses and five days community service.

He was banned from the UFC for six months and fined $50k for brawling with the camp of Khabib after his world title loss.

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On Monday, McGregor was arrested in Miami Beach for allegedly destroying and stealing the mobile phone of a man who was attempting to take his photograph.

Miami Beach PD

“He would certainly have to convince me to go again,” Kavanagh told the Irish Independent.

“I love him, I love the whole journey we've had but I'd need a good 'why'. It might be [Nate] Diaz again because he promised that fight. It might be a rematch with Khabib.

“But if it was just: 'Well, they want me to fight that guy' I think I'd say, 'I wish you the best.'

“He has a wife and two kids now and I don't want him taking more hits than he needs to.

“Khabib hit him with a punch in that fight that he has never been hit with in his career. And even Superman slows down at some stage.”

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