Coach John Kavanagh: Conor McGregor isn’t going anywhere soon

Last November, in the main event of the blockbuster UFC 205, Ireland’s Conor McGregor knocked out Eddie Alvarez to win the UFC lightweight title. Given that he still owned the UFC featherweight crown at the time, this made him the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes at the same time. With this history-making win, the Irishman realized new and unprecedented heights of stardom, and maintained his status as the biggest name in MMA.

Since this massive win, however, McGregor’s focus has been far from MMA. Instead, he’s been transfixed on an ultra-lucrative boxing bout with undefeated star Floyd Mayweather.

Win or lose, McGregor would make enough money in this potential mega-fight that he could easily walk away from combat sports forever. According to his coach John Kavanagh, however, the Irishman is likely far from done with fighting. Kavanagh explained this feeling in an interview with the Irish Mirror (via MMAMania.com).

“Like any sport there’s a sell-by date,” Kavanagh said. But Conor is 28, he’s a baby in the sport. I look at Bernard Hopkins who’s 50, winning world title fights, so Conor isn’t going anywhere soon.”

While Kavanagh is confident that McGregor still has plenty of fight left in him, however, he does expect the Irishman’s eventual retirement to be final.

“I predict once he’s done in the sport he will disappear,” Kavanagh said. “People think he likes the limelight – he doesn’t. He just likes fighting and promoting fights.”

The renowned MMA coach did, however, admit that there’s a possibility McGregor turns his attention to a career in Hollywood once his time as a prizefighter has ended.

“Who knows, maybe he’ll go to Hollywood and become the next [Arnold] Schwarzenegger,” Kavanagh said. 

How much longer do you think Conor McGregor will fight for? Sound off, PENN Nation!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/29/2017.