Conor McGregor’s next chapter may be written at welterweight, not lightweight. John Kavanagh says getting him back to 155 pounds would now take “something really big,” and he expects McGregor to stay at 170 for the foreseeable future.
That view comes as McGregor prepares to return to the octagon for the first time in five years, facing Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The rematch will be fought at 170 pounds, a notable shift from the featherweight meeting they had in 2013.
Why 170 pounds fits McGregor now
McGregor has already shown he can operate at welterweight. He split a memorable two-fight series with Nate Diaz in 2016 and later knocked out Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds at UFC 246 in 2020, which remains his last win to date.
Kavanagh told mixedmartialarts.com that 170 is now a comfortable cut for McGregor and that the fighter has the frame and strength to match the division. He also pointed to McGregor’s long reach as part of what makes the weight class workable for him.
| Weight Class | McGregor History | Kavanagh’s View |
|---|---|---|
| 145 pounds | Held a title here | No specific future plan mentioned |
| 155 pounds | Held a title here, lost his last two bouts at this weight | “You’re going to have to do something really big” to bring him back |
| 170 pounds | Split with Nate Diaz, beat Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds | A comfortable cut and the likely home moving forward |
Kavanagh wants more activity after this return
The coach also wants McGregor back in action sooner rather than later. Kavanagh said he would like to see him busier than waiting until next April and suggested that, if all goes well, the plan could include a short break before another run.
He added that he would love to see McGregor fight again before the end of the year, while leaving the final scheduling calls to “the guys in the suits.” For now, though, the immediate focus is on Saturday’s return and whether McGregor can rediscover the form that once made him one of the UFC’s most dangerous finishers.
A simple promise from the coach
Every fighter and pundit has been weighing in on how McGregor might look against Holloway, but Kavanagh kept his forecast short. “A master class,” he said, offering the only guarantee he was willing to make before the bout.
That leaves McGregor’s comeback with one clear storyline: a major return at a new weight, and a coach who now believes the lightweight days are behind him.
