John Kavanagh says Conor McGregor ready to make UFC return in 2024: 'He's looking very sharp to me'

John Kavanagh believes Conor McGregor is ready to fight Michael Chandler right now.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) was scheduled to make his highly anticipated return against Chandler at UFC 303 in July but was forced out due to a broken pinky toe. McGregor initially teased a December comeback, then claimed the promotion is not going to let him fight. UFC CEO Dana White is adamant it won’t happen this year, suggesting early 2025 instead.

“Conor McGregor will fight next year, early 2025,” White told the New York Post. “He’s had so much time off, as far as the hunger, he’s a very wealthy guy. We’ll find out when he comes back, but he is definitely one of the big superstars of the sport that elevated the UFC all throughout Europe and other parts of the world. He’s been a big star and a great partner for us.”

As far as timing is concerned, McGregor’s longtime head coach says otherwise. Kavanagh said McGregor is currently in fight shape, raising further questions about his delayed return.

“If the (McGregor vs. Chandler) date came back and was confirmed for December, we’re already in heavy training, although we’re training remotely together at the moment,” Kavanagh said in an interview with “Lucky Block.” “He’s stateside on, I believe, a Forged Irish Stout tour.

“He’s visiting a couple of breweries over there, but we’re still sending each other training videos and training plans. He’s got some training partners over there and in the footage I’m getting back, he’s looking very sharp to me. If the date was now or in December, it would be a green light for me anyway.”

McGregor hasn’t competed since suffering a broken leg in an injury TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Chandler also hasn’t fought since November 2022 when he suffered a submission loss to Poirier. Chandler has chosen to put his career on hold in hopes that the lucrative McGregor fight comes to fruition.