UFC: Conor McGregor should ‘stay at 170’ pounds and fight lightweight Justin Gaethje next, says coach John Kavanagh

Conor McGregor should not leave the 170-pound welterweight division unless there is a title fight on the line, according to coach John Kavanagh

Kavanagh prefers Gaethje over others as he envisions winning the 155-pound lightweight belt back

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John Kavanagh (right) spars with former UFC double champion Conor McGregor. Photo: Handout

Published: 8:00pm, 22 Jan 2020Updated: 8:19pm, 22 Jan 2020

Conor McGregor has no urgent reason to depart from the 170-pound welterweight division, says long-time coach John Kavanagh.

The 31-year-old McGregor (professional MMA record 22-4) – who has fought most of his fights at featherweight and lightweight, 145 and 155 pounds, respectively – chose to fight Donald Cerrone at 170 pounds to avoid weight cutting. The Irishman beat Cerrone via TKO at UFC 246 last Sunday.

“I don’t see the reason for him to cut weight unless there’s a belt on the line, otherwise why would he do it?” Kavanagh said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “So stay at this weight, don’t cut weight, and then when the big ones come along, then shed the last 15 pounds.”

While it is unclear when and with whom McGregor’s next bout will be, Kavanagh expects a quick turnover with an eye on the scheduled lightweight bout with champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (28-0) and Tony Ferguson (25-3) at UFC 249 in April.

“I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t going to compete before the summer,” Kavanagh said, adding that there was “talk” of March or April. “We’ll definitely be competing before the summer.