Conor McGregor will officially begin his preparations for his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier as his coaches jetted out to his private Dubai fight camp.
The Irishman has been in the gym almost every day in the Middle East, where he stayed after losing his January rematch to Poirier on Fight Island at UFC 257.
Long-time coaches John Kavanagh and Owen Roddy were pictured boarding a first-class flight to Dubai where they will link up with McGregor, who will return to the UFC lightweight title picture should he settle his trilogy with the Louisiana native in his favour.
Head coach Kavanagh shared a photo on his Instagram where he and Roddy can be seen in plush seats on a plane heading to Dubai, with the caption 'Stick the kettle on big C, we're coming'.
The pair have been with McGregor since his early days in the sport, with jiu-jitsu black belt Kavanagh and striking expert Roddy ever-present members of his corner throughout his highs and lows - including his boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather.
Dubliner McGregor couldn't help but spark a row with newly-crowned lightweight champion Charles Oliveira over the weekend, winding up the Brazilian on social media.
Brazilian fighter Oliveira extended his winning streak to nine in Texas with a dramatic second round TKO over three-time Bellator champion Michael Chandler.
And not long after the fight had finished, McGregor took to social media to provide his views, tweeting: "Congrats to Oliveira on becoming the 11th UFC lightweight champion. Wonder who Twelve is..."
Oliveira reacted to this provocation by responding to The Notorious via reporters, saying: "Conor, since you're so tough, first beat Dustin, then come to Brazil and I'll put you on your a**.
"He's just one of these guys that talks a lot. He needs to beat Dustin first."
Of course, that light-hearted banter aside, McGregor appears to be laser-focused on winning his highly anticipated third fight with number one contender Poirier at UFC 264 on July 10.
He told fans in a social media Q&A that he plans to leave his pregnant wife Dee Devlin and their two children Conor Jr and Croia so that he can enter the fight as a 'wild dog'.
And coach Kavanagh will also make familial sacrifices, leaving behind his own young son and fiancée Orlagh Hunter in Dublin while he trains McGregor in the UAE.
He had a little more time at home than expected in recent months, when due to an issue with getting into America, he had to stay in Dublin while SBG Ireland fighter Peter Queally shot his way into title contention with a win over Patricky Pitbull at Bellator 258.
