John Kavanagh, head of SBG Ireland, is optimistic that Conor McGregor will return to the octagon in 2023.
The former two-division champion has been out of action since being defeated by Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He suffered a broken leg at the end of the first round, seemingly putting an end to the trilogy and leaving the star out of action.
This was his second defeat to ‘The Diamond’ after losing just six months prior at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi, leaving the 34-year-old with just one win in his last four fights.
John Kavanagh Talks About Conor McGregor’s Next Fight
Talking to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour about McGregor’s return, Kavanagh said: “I’d be willing to bet my house on it.
“I was actually just chatting with him yesterday or the day before, and then [McGregor’s manager] Audie [Attar of Paradigm Sports] was in town.
“Yeah, I think there’s some interesting negotiations going along now.
“I absolutely can’t say anything beyond that, but I’m very, very confident that we’ll see Conor back in the octagon this year.”
Regardless of who ‘The Notorious’ faces, the fight will no doubt gather an incredible amount of attention. Of the top ten selling UFC pay-per-views of all time, McGregor has been part of eight of them.
Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and Tony Ferguson are among the names to call him out.
Who Will Conor McGregor Face?
On potential opponents, Kavanagh said: “I’m asked this so often and I have to be honest when I say I really don’t mind.
“What matters to me is that, let’s say I’m seeing Conor this week and we’re chatting and he says a few names and I see a name particularly gets the eyes open, particularly gets his pacing up and down the living room and showing me what he’s going to do and what he’s not going to do.
“That would be absolutely the most important thing for me: that it’s a name that’s going to excite him.
“Because for Conor, for training for this next fight, he’s definitely got to find something that’s massively motivating to him to get him out of the silk pants and into the sweaty gym.
“What’s it going to be? A couple million more? Is that really going to motivate him? I don’t think so.
“He has a couple championship belts. Is that it? I don’t think so. So I think it’s more going to be a particular opponent, a particular skill set and how it matches up against him.”
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
