Kavanagh rules out McGregor return to lightweight, pushes for second fight before end of 2026

Conor McGregor’s long-time coach John Kavanagh has declared that his fighter’s days as a lightweight are effectively over, and has urged the UFC to book McGregor for a second fight before the close of 2026 — months ahead of the April 2027 slot McGregor has reportedly discussed with the promotion.

McGregor returns to the octagon for the first time in five years this Saturday when he faces Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The pair first met in 2013 in a featherweight contest McGregor won; the rematch takes place at 170 pounds.

Kavanagh told mixedmartialarts.com that welterweight is now McGregor’s natural home. “You’re going to have to do something really big to get Conor at 155 again,” he said. “170 is a comfortable cut for him now and he’s got the frame for it. He certainly has the strength for it.”

McGregor has competed three times at welterweight in the UFC, splitting a two-fight series with Nate Diaz in 2016 and knocking out Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds at UFC 246 in January 2020 — his last victory to date. His two subsequent outings at lightweight both ended in defeat to Dustin Poirier, the second of which resulted in a broken leg that triggered his extended absence from competition.

McGregor has previously stated he has spoken to the UFC about booking the final fight of his contract for April 2027, but Kavanagh made clear he would prefer a much faster turnaround. “I would love to have something before the end of the year, but I’ll let the guys in the suits argue about that,” he said. “We’re going to be done and dusted early July. So all going well, a little break and then back into it.”

As for Saturday’s performance against Holloway, Kavanagh offered a characteristically bullish prediction. “A master class,” he said. “That’s as much as I can tell you.”