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15th Dec 2015

Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh reveals the most likely next fight for the UFC champion

This is his next move...

Darragh Murphy

Everyone wants a piece of Conor McGregor.

Frankie Edgar wants a shot. Jose Aldo wants a rematch. Both Rafael dos Anjos and Donald Cerrone are keen to get their hands on him.

So what’s next?

With three very viable and even more lucrative options in front of them, what will be the next move for Team McGregor?

UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor

SBG head coach John Kavanagh took to TheMMAHour on Monday where he claimed that he foresees his star pupil moving up to 155 lbs in Spring to take the lightweight title before dropping back down to defend his current featherweight belt.

“No doubt that [Edgar] fight will happen,” Kavanagh said. “But I think the next will be at lightweight for the belt.

“Maybe that’s going to be around March-April, something like that, I think there is possibility of a big New York card around then. Maybe that and then July’s UFC 200, maybe defend the featherweight belt against Frankie on that card.  Everyone’s time will come, every will get their shot at him. They just have to be patient.”

UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor

Many had suggested that the UFC would be too worried about risking a McGregor injury before UFC 200, which would mean that we wouldn’t see the Irishman in action before July, but Kavanagh has claimed that there is no way that the new 145 lb kingpin could wait that long without fighting.

“He’s never going to wait till July,” Kavanagh said.

“Even if I was to suggest it or encourage it, I know it is a pointless effort. I can see the lightweight belt, see how the guys get on and see how injured the winner is and do that midway between now and July.”