Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Alex Pattle

Conor McGregor ‘back healthy’, says coach John Kavanagh as UFC return draws nearer

@thenotoriousmma

Conor McGregor is finally able to train in ‘all the facets of MMA’ again following his recovery from the broken leg that he sustained in his last fight.

McGregor fought and lost twice in 2021, suffering a knockout defeat by Dustin Poirier last January before breaking his own leg in their July clash.

The Irishman recently practised kicks for the first time since sustaining the injury, and his coach John Kavanagh has said McGregor is ‘back healthy’ at last.

“We had a great roll-around,” Kavanagh told The Mac Life. “I think that’s literally my first time doing some grappling with him since the lead-up to the last fight. So, it’s been a while.

“He’s back healthy now, he’s back able to do all the facets of MMA training.

“He kind of remarked at the end of the session: ‘Well, that’s day one.’ I said: ‘Na, that’s more like day 100,000. You had a bit of a break there, but that ain’t our first time doing this.’”

McGregor, who looks like a “2,000lbs gorilla” at the moment according to Kavanagh, also took part in a jiu-jitsu class with regular members of his coach’s gym.

“He walks in, and the whole gym kind of lifted,” Kavanagh said. “There was a great energy in it, he brings that intensity to every training session. It was great to see all the younger guys on the mat there get a great buzz off that.”

McGregor, who turned 34 today, is expected back in the Octagon at the end of 2022 at the earliest, and the former featherweight and lightweight champion has teased bouts at welterweight and middleweight ahead of his return.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.