Conor McGregor's long-time coach, John Kavanagh, has explained why the team arrived in Las Vegas later than anticipated for UFC 329, where McGregor will face Max Holloway in a welterweight showdown on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena.
Coach Takes Blame for Late Arrival
Speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show, Kavanagh apologised for the delay, saying: “I’ll apologise. I maybe had a part in him being a bit late arriving. We were originally gonna come in on Friday, and we were up in Newport [in Rhode Island]. And it’s so beautiful, and I might have suggested, ‘Why don’t we stay here another few days, and just go in at the last moment,’ because the weather was... you know, the climate’s perfect. We got a few extra training sessions done over that weekend, which I feel – if we would have come into Vegas – we may not have. So, I think it worked out well, because the weather here [in Vegas] is [much hotter].”
McGregor, who turns 38 three days after the fight, has not fought since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021. His last win came six years ago—a 40-second demolition of Donald Cerrone. After pulling out of a scheduled clash with Michael Chandler, many assumed his career was over, but his comeback was announced earlier this year.
Fans Worried by Absence from Embedded Episodes
McGregor was absent from the first two UFC Embedded episodes, leading fans to theorise he had pulled out of the fight. Most fighters arrive in the host city early to adjust and prepare mentally, but McGregor was not seen in Las Vegas until Tuesday. Kavanagh’s explanation has alleviated those concerns.
Kavanagh Confident in McGregor's Form
Despite McGregor's long layoff, Kavanagh is confident the best version of the Irish fighter will appear on Saturday. “We've been super careful this training camp,” he said. “He has not a niggle on him, not a bump, not a bruise. 100%. We'll get to see the best version of him.”
McGregor is looking forward to ending his six-year winless streak. If victorious, he will have a wide range of potential opponents, including lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who has expressed interest in a fight. However, McGregor dismissed Gaethje at the UFC media day, saying: “Yeah, join the queue, there’s a few. Look, he has the lightweight belt, fair play to him. Holloway had him face down a** up, though. Badly face down, so I’m not even thinking of it this time. Would I go down to lightweight again? I’m not so sure. I fancy the triple crown, so less of the disrespect you f****** bum.”
McGregor vs Holloway 2: What to Expect
The welterweight bout at UFC 329 marks a rematch of their 2013 featherweight fight, which McGregor won by decision. Holloway, the former featherweight champion, has since moved up in weight and presents a significant challenge. Fans will see if McGregor can recapture his former glory after a five-year hiatus.
