John Kavanagh Offers Opinion On 'Realistic' Date For Conor McGregor's Next Fight

We’re just over a week departed from Conor McGregor’s last fight, but already fans are wondering when they are likely to see ‘The Notorious’ back in the UFC Octagon.

McGregor was defeated by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 earlier this month after being submitted in the fourth round via a neck crank. It was the Irishman’s first fight in the UFC Octagon since UFC 205 in Nov. 2016 and with the loss to Nurmagomedov now in the rear-view mirror, there are plenty of questions being asked about who and when he will fight next.

One man more in the know than most is McGregor’s head coach John Kavanagh. Despite having been with the Irishman since his very first MMA fight until the current day, Kavanagh has always stated that McGregor is own man and that he’s a master of his own destiny.

However, when asked this past week for his own opinion on when McGregor might return to the Octagon, Kavanagh suggested it wouldn’t be until midway through 2019 until he fights again.

“I think summer is probably realistic,” Kavanagh said last week on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

“We have to obviously see what punishment Khabib gets. Hopefully, it’s not a long ban.”

One other date that has entered Kavanagh’s mind is St. Patrick’s Day next March. The large Irish population in New York would provide a suitable backdrop for McGregor’s next fight and the timing of St Patrick’s Day would ensure a carnival like atmosphere.

“It’s funny I was looking at March 16 as Paddy’s day is March 17,” Kavanagh continued.

“That’s a Sunday and March 16 is a Saturday so imagine Madison Square Garden on the Saturday night before St Patrick’s Day. That would be insane.”