Conor McGregor’s coach talks about his potential return to UFC in January 2020

Owen Roddy, Conor McGregor’s coach recently revealed to the press that the Irish professional mixed martial artist, boxer and the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight and featherweight champion is in a very good shape ahead of making a return to the UFC.

Although Owen didn’t confirm any and the date or opponent for McGregor’s next fight, he seemed confident that the Irish fighter’s comeback to UFC will be nothing short of phenomenal. It’s worth noting that the former UFC champion is yet to compete in a UFC event since his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in UFC 229 PPV in October, which eventually ended up in an all-out brawl.

Many UFC fans as well as punters are keenly looking forward to Conor McGregor’s return as he is not only popular in the championship circles, but in the UFC betting markets as well. He has an ardent fan following that religiously backs him in every fight that he takes part in. For those who don’t understand sports betting, the way it works is that placing your money on a bookie’s favourite makes for a safe bet with a moderate pay-out but placing your hard earned cash on a promising underdog with the odds stocked against them makes for a greater risk, a greater pay-out and a level of suspense that you don’t get from putting all your money on the obvious winner. Plus, you get to support and underdog, which is always rewarding in its own way too.

McGregor is currently sitting on 4/1 odds, which puts him somewhere in the middle of the pack. He’s not the obvious favourite but he’s not a total wildcard either. Betting on him, therefore, means that you get a bit of the best of both worlds. 4/1 doesn’t bring with it a major payout but it’s far better than, say, a 2/1 favourite. It’s also a pretty safe bet so your chances of winning with McGregor are, in fact, reasonably high, but not so high that it becomes boring. He’s a killer all-rounder and betting on him reflects that.

Is training hard and is in good physical shape

Throwing light upon McGregor’s present training routine, Roddy told the press that he’s been working very hard despite the fact that no official date has been set for his return as yet. Nevertheless, he’s been working out on a regular basis and is in good nick. His current fitness level can also be verified from any of his latest pictures. 

If we were to go by the rumours, he is expected to make a comeback to the ring on January 18, in a fight against Donald Cerrone at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Owen Roddy informed the press, “If it is ‘Cowboy’, it would be an exciting fight. I said this a couple of months ago: ‘Cowboy’ and Conor is a great fight for the fans. Two guys that are exciting strikers – although ‘Cowboy’ is phenomenal on the ground, as well, but I think if it was a fight between them, it would be a striking battle, and I think it would be one for the fans, so if it is that, it’ll be an exciting one.” Regardless, here’s a piece on what’s next for Conor McGregor that was published on our website some time ago.

Interested in 3 fights next year

McGregor on the other hand is interested in 3 fights next year – against Jorge Masvidal, Donald Cerrone and finally a potential rematch against Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, it is apparent that it won’t be easy for him to get a rematch with the latter as the Russian fighter has put a condition that McGregor must win 10 straight fights to get a chance to win the UFC lightweight championship. Although McGregor’s coach has confessed that right now he only wants the Irish fighter to return to the ring, even he believes that McGregor might perform very well if he is promised a rematch against Nurmagomedov.

Talking about their last encounter, he said, “It was a tricky fight, and take nothing away from Khabib, he came in with a great game plan. He got off, and he executed. but I just don’t think Conor was anywhere near the best of his ability. He wasn’t as good as he can be, and Conor on a night, at 100 per cent, can beat anybody in the world.”