- 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
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.
"What I was thinking is … we prepare for the April fight (between Khabib and Ferguson), if one of those is unfortunate enough not to make it to the walk, we'll be ready to go.
"If that's not there, schedule one within a few weeks of that April fight, then you're on the same timelines as those guys if they fight a couple of months after that." Kavanagh explained.
Several fighters have campaigned for a gold-mine fight with McGregor while rumours of another boxing crossover fight swirl. Although names such as Jorge Masvidal, Kamaru Usman and Manny Pacquiao top the list, Kavanagh prefers a different opponent.
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"Justin Gaethje at 170 " that would be my personal preference," he said, adding that Masvidal is not out of contention. "He's another lightweight and neither of them have to cut weight. The vision is getting that 155 pound belt back so it's a step towards that.
"We're putting our energy and focus on ourselves, we've always had great results where there's no opponent. That's what I want to continue and not to focus on what other people are doing or trying to distract us," Kavanagh said.
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