For the most part, coach Jon Kavanagh, Conor McGregor’s lead trainer and the man who has molded and shaped him into the fighter that he is today, isn’t a joker. He’s been serious and straightforward since day one. So when he cracks a joke, it’s tough to discern if he really means it or not.
We are now just days away until McGregor steps into the ring with boxing legend Floyd “Money” Mayweather. The two combat sports icons are set to do battle at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday. In front of a sold-out crowd, August 26th. The entire world will be watching.
Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor are set to do battle this weekend
While Conor McGregor would have loved for this fight to go down in the Octagon, it’s happening in the boxing ring instead. The undefeated 49-0 Mayweather is going for his 50th consecutive victory, against a man who is making his pro boxing debut. How unreal is that? It has certainly drawn the ire of many boxing fans.
For one, Conor McGregor is a martial artist. His muscle memory not only includes punches, but also elbows, kicks, knees and other techniques. To protect against McGregor landing any of these unauthorized strikes in boxing, Mayweather has included in the contract that if McGregor pulls off any mixed martial arts moves, he’ll have to give up nearly 90% of his prize money.
Given that the two fighters are in this megabout for one reason, and one reason only, this happening is a stretch. There is no way Conor McGregor would even think about as much as kicking Floyd Mayweather in this fight. It’s just not going to happen.
Jon Kavanagh posts cryptic message on Instagram
Jon Kavanagh has said previously that he didn’t think this would be an issue. However, he did go on Instagram recently and posted this picture of Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov with cryptic caption.
“This technique is designed to rupture the major collateral ligaments in the elbow joint,” Kavanagh said of McGregor’s armbar. “It is powerful enough to cause an avulsion fracture. Luckily for [Floyd Mayweather] he does not have to worry about this next Saturday. Or does he?”
Is the mixed martial arts coach serious? With Conor McGregor expected to make nearly a hundred million dollars in this fight, it is utterly inconceivable that this happens. But in the world of combat sports, you can’t count anything out completely. This is a fight, after all.
Conor McGregor dispels these rumors
For the most part however, Conor McGregor has laid waste to these rumors of him using MMA moves. The Irishman has iterated that he has brought in top boxing referees, including the legendary Joe Cortez, to help prepare him for boxing’s “limited ruleset”.
McGregor says there is absolutely no way that he will do anything to jeopardize what he has worked so hard for. So Mayweather, in fact, should not be worried at all.
But wouldn’t it be absolutely insane if he did? Imagine Floyd Mayweather, head kicked unconscious. Now that would be the absolute craziest day in combat sports history.
