Kavanagh expects McGregor to fight again, says return to MMA training is next year

The bottom line

Kavanagh says McGregor had 'zero injury' going into UFC 329, is in rehab and should start MMA-type training next year; he has one UFC fight left.

From 4 reports by 4 outlets

Latest Kavanagh: McGregor had 'zero injury' going into UFC 329 4 outlets

Kavanagh expects McGregor to fight again, says return to MMA training is next year
Photo via Bloody Elbow · added

What we know

  • Kavanagh told The Ariel Helwani Show that McGregor says he will fight again and that he won't doubt him.
  • McGregor's UFC 329 return in July ended in injury 69 seconds into the main event.
  • Kavanagh said McGregor 'walked in with no injury. Zero injury', and that McGregor told him afterwards he felt 'supremely confident going in'.
  • McGregor is in rehab; Kavanagh guesses he could start MMA-type training next year.
  • McGregor has one fight left on his UFC deal and is still in the testing pool.
  • Kavanagh is not sure another comeback would be a full return to regular MMA competition.
John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor's long-time coach, says he sees no reason to doubt that McGregor will compete again. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, he said McGregor still says he wants to fight, and that after 22 years around him he has watched him do things that seemed impossible.

McGregor's UFC 329 return in July, his first fight in five years, ended in injury 69 seconds into the main event. Kavanagh said McGregor is going through rehab and looks to be moving well, and guessed that a return to MMA-type training would come next year.

McGregor is still in the testing pool and has one fight left on his UFC contract. Kavanagh said he is not sure what another comeback would look like: "I just don't know if he's done with competition just yet." He also said he doesn't know whether it would be a full return to regular MMA competition, and the interviewer raised Conor Benn's recent reaction to talk of a fight with McGregor.
 
Summary
Kavanagh says McGregor had 'zero injury' going into UFC 329, is in rehab and should start MMA-type training next year; he has one UFC fight left.
Key points (one per line)
Kavanagh says McGregor 'walked in with no injury. Zero injury' before UFC 329, pushing back on theories he was hurt beforehand.
McGregor is in rehab; Kavanagh guesses MMA-type training starts next year.
McGregor has one fight left on his UFC deal and is still in the testing pool.
Kavanagh doubts another comeback would be a full return to regular MMA competition.
Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
Bloody Elbow | https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/10/27/conor-mcgregors-coach-comments-on-his-ufc-future-for-the-first-time-since-comeback-ended-in-injury/
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/conor-mcgregors-coach-just-shut-down-the-ufc-329-injury-conspiracy-for-good
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/55c464f8-f646-4922-8fc6-3d57d7f24b9f/john-kavanagh-conor-mcgregor-ufc-329-runners-walkout
Sherdog | https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Conor-McGregors-coach-gives-2027-training-timeline-after-knee-injury-203376
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Photo via Sherdog
via Sherdog ·
Photo via Combat Sports UK
via Combat Sports UK ·
Photo via Knockout Daily
via Knockout Daily ·

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