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Johnny Walker Explains Decision To Leave John Kavanagh’s SBG Ireland: ‘Environment Wasn’t Perfect For MMA’

Johnny Walker put a lot into his scheduled return at UFC 311 following some big changes that have taken place in his life and career. Unfortunately, the light heavyweight contender was unable to reap the rewards of his hard work after a rib injury forced him to withdraw from his prelim bout against Bogdan Guskov. […]

The Brazilian is currently coming off of consecutive losses following an up and down trajectory in recent years. During that time frame, he was training out of SBG Dublin under John Kavanagh and Walker is very grateful of this experience. However, there were some key areas that he didn’t feel like he was fulfilling in his preparations whilst being based out of Ireland in recent times.

After spending some time at different gyms, his led him to moving his entire life to Las Vegas where in the combat sports capital of the world, he has everything he could possibly need at his finger tips. Walker gave two specific examples during a recent interview with MMA Junkie regarding holes in his training camp that had recently appeared.

The 32-year old believes that his last defeat inside the Octagon came about because of one specific reason with another key factor being his lack of training partners. Walker did have a small stable of guys to work with at one point whilst he was training in Dublin but that hasn’t been the case as time has gone on and finding bodies to work with at Xtreme Couture is not exactly difficult.

“We had the best coach there. John was a very high-level coach,” Walker said. “He did the best for me. He improved my game a lot, but I just had one or two training partners. The last fight against (Volkan) Oezdemir, I was adapting myself to get ready as best as I could for the fight. I was doing boxing sparring in the ring. … In the fight, you can see I brought him close to the fence, which was wrong because I was sparring in the ring. You can’t spar in the ring and fight in the octagon. It’s totally different. In the octagon, if you step close to the fence, the guy is going to take you down, or the guy is going to knock you out because when you’re close to the fence, it’s the worst place to be. The guy (Oezdemir) knocked me out because I brought him to the fence.

“This is the worst thing you can do in MMA. The environment wasn’t perfect for MMA. At SBG, I had just one training partner. Here in Vegas, I have the UFC PI for strength and conditioning, for nutrition, for recovery. At Xtreme Couture, I have high-level guys between top 10 and top 15. Light heavyweight and heavyweight, and Sean Strickland. Every day I have a high-level guy to train with. You need challenges, and now at Xtreme, I have that challenge. …I have everything now for recovery, for nutrition, for training, coaching. Now the light heavyweights are in trouble. Now you’re going to have the best version of Johnny Walker because I’m just going to be better. Now my career is going to fly.”

Conor McGregor’s Coach Omits Jon Jones From His MMA Mount Rushmore

Conor McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, recently shared his picks for an MMA Mount Rushmore. Intriguingly, Jon Jones was conspicuously absent from his list. The reigning UFC heavyweight champion’s name is a natural inclusion in any conversation about the greatest MMA fighter of all time (GOAT), and his achievements would appear to certainly validate that status. […]

Continue Reading Conor McGregor’s Coach Omits Jon Jones From His MMA Mount Rushmore at MMA News.

Conor McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, recently shared his picks for an MMA Mount Rushmore. Intriguingly, Jon Jones was conspicuously absent from his list.

The reigning UFC heavyweight champion’s name is a natural inclusion in any conversation about the greatest MMA fighter of all time (GOAT), and his achievements would appear to certainly validate that status. “Bones” boasts a career marked by extraordinary accomplishments and historic milestones.

At just 23, Jones made history by defeating then-light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua in the third round at UFC 128 in March 2011, securing his place as the youngest UFC champion ever. From that moment, he never looked back, embarking on a remarkable journey that culminated in an unprecedented 13 successful title defenses.

In recent times, no one has been more vocally supportive of Jones’ status as the GOAT and the top pound-for-pound fighter than UFC CEO Dana White. White has been notably immersed in extensive discussions, staunchly defending the 37-year-old New Yorker’s legacy.

However, Kavanagh’s all-time MMA elite list boasts an array of unexpected names, and it overlooks Jones despite his legendary career…

Kavanagh Reveals Five Picks for MMA Mount Rushmore With No Jones

During a recent discussion with Lucky Block, Kavanagh was prompted to name the greatest MMA fighters of all time. The renowned coach listed five names, deviating from the traditional four-person Mount Rushmore.

Naturally, Kavanagh included “The Notorious” as his first pick, highlighting the remarkable achievements of his student and the profound impact he’s had on the sport.

“Unsurprisingly, I’m going to name Conor first because he became the first simultaneous two-weight world champion. That’s no small feat, but also what he did for the game in general, his general introduction of MMA to a whole world who would have never seen it, really. He’s the first and maybe the only one to truly cross over into, let’s say, normal life, and obviously, now he’s in movies as well. A lot of people to be thankful that if you’re involved in the MMA industry, you probably had a few guys walk into your gym because of Conor’s influence.”

Kavanagh then listed Russian MMA icon Fedor Emelianenko among his favorites, followed by UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn, recognizing his McGregor-esque achievements.

For his fourth pick, he named another legend, former longtime UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

“Number two, I’ll say Fedor Emelianenko. He’s one of my favorite fighters of all time. Incredible Russian fighter. I’m going to say, BJ Penn, another two-weight world champion. Incredible skill set. At four, I have to go for Anderson Silva. I think some record number of title defenses and just so skillful, you watch him back in the day when he was fighting someone who’s a kind of a friend of mine, Forrest Griffin. Forrest is so tough, so durable, so good, and Anderson made the poor guy look like he’d never trained. He has amazing skills.”

The SBG Ireland founder placed the first women’s UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey, as his fifth pick, celebrating her as a trailblazer who revolutionized women’s MMA.

“At five I will say Ronda Rousey and not just for her amazing victories in the UFC, but the fact that she really introduced women’s MMA to the world. Dana was pretty headstrong all those years, saying he would never have women in MMA. And I think he took one look at her and said, let’s get women in MMA. So, there we go. That’s my five.”

Kavanagh’s omission of “Bones” from his MMA Mount Rushmore is indeed surprising, but he’s not alone in leaving out the former light heavyweight champion.

Recently, UFC middleweight veteran Sam Alvey has also excluded Jones from his list of top fighters, further stirring curiosity about Jones’ place in the pantheon of MMA greatness.

Read More: Jon Jones Reacts To Inclusion On Dana White’s MMA Mount Rushmore

Continue Reading Conor McGregor’s Coach Omits Jon Jones From His MMA Mount Rushmore at MMA News.

Coach backs Conor McGregor for win over Michael Chandler: ‘He’s an absolute sharpshooter’

Coach backs Conor McGregor for win over Michael Chandler: 'He's an absolute sharpshooter' John Kavanagh has insisted while a grudge match for his trainee, Conor McGregor against Michael Chandler is still on…

John Kavanagh has insisted while a grudge match for his trainee, Conor McGregor against Michael Chandler is still on the cards for the Dubliner’s return to action, a potential switcharoo would not cause much concern for the team — who believe the ex-champion is en route to a rather straightforward win.

Conor McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight champion and featherweight gold holder in the UFC, has been sidelined from action for more than three years, most recently fracturing his left tibia and fibula in an opening round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss against common-foe, Dustin Poirier.

Conor McGregor slams 'Greedy and corrupted' officials over expensive bike shed

Expected to take on Chandler in a slated welterweight headliner at UFC 303 at the end of June during International Fight Week, a fractured toe ruled the veteran counter striker from a hiatus-snapping comeback to action.

John Kavanagh expects Conor McGregor to finish Michael Chandler

Earlier this week, UFC CEO, Dana White provided a distinct update on the fighting future of Conor McGregor, confirming how he expects the Dubliner to fight early next year, and if the above-mentioned Kavanagh is concerned, a straightforward win over the former two-weight champion is likely instore.

Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler — Image via: Getty

“We don’t get too obsessed with what the other guy is doing,” John Kavanagh told Bloody Elbow. “We try to focus more on what we’re doing. You look at (Michael) Chandler, he has some incredible wins in the UFC. He stopped Dan Hooker, who was on the toughest guys in that division, and Chandlr made pretty short work of him and then his knockout against (Tony) Ferguson, so he’s dangerous everywhere. He’s solid everywhere.”

“We’re ready for his wild strikes and we’re ready for his wild grappling,” Kavanagh explained. “At the end of the day, the fight starts with the two of them standing at opposite ends of the cage, so whatever Chandler’s goal is — whether it’s to land a strike or a takedown — he’s got to walk through that danger zone and that’s where Conor (McGregor) has proven time and again to be an absolute sharpshooter. When he lands, it tends to be all she wrote.”

Coach backs Conor McGregor for win over Michael Chandler: ‘He’s an absolute sharpshooter’

John Kavanagh has insisted while a grudge match for his trainee, Conor McGregor against Michael Chandler is still on…

John Kavanagh expects Conor McGregor to finish Michael Chandler

Coach backs Conor McGregor for win over Michael Chandler: ‘He’s an absolute sharpshooter’

John Kavanagh has insisted while a grudge match for his trainee, Conor McGregor against Michael Chandler is still on…

John Kavanagh expects Conor McGregor to finish Michael Chandler

Conor McGregor backed as ‘Super sharp’ ahead of return fight at UFC 303: ‘I’d be surprised if we see two rounds’

Finally set to make his long-anticipated return to action at UFC 303 at the end of June, former two-division…

Finally set to make his long-anticipated return to action at UFC 303 at the end of June, former two-division champion, Conor McGregor has been described as “super slick” by his head coach, John Kavanagh, who claimed he would surprised if the Dubliner did not finish opponent, Michael Chandler before the second round.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the promotion, is finally set to make his return to active competition for the first time in over three years, booking a headlining slot against Chandler at UFC 303 during International Fight Week at the end of June.

Taking on Chandler, McGregor shared time with the former Bellator MMA titleholder during filming on The Ultimate Fighter 31 last year, with the duo serving as opposing coaches.

And set to begin training camp for his fight with the Kill Cliff FC standout, McGregor – who has set up a large training facility at his property in Straffen, recently underwent a random drug test – all while receiving a home-call haircut.

Conor McGregor described as “sharp” ahead of UFC 303 return

Set to roll back into Las Vegas for a blockbuster fight with Chandler this summer, McGregor’s head coach, Kavanagh, claimed his student was looking more than “sharp”, and sees similarities to how the bout could play out with the Crumlin striker’s 2015 knockout win over Chad Mendes.

Conor McGregor vows to quit drinking ahead of UFC 303 five more nights then that's that

“He’s come back on the mats as sharp as ever,” John Kavanagh told Andy Stevenson of Severe MMA regarding Conor McGregor. “Of course, we’ve got to get the rounds in and get the conditioning up so as to be ready for competition, but his technique is as sharp as ever.”

“I see similarities to the (Chad) Mendes fight,” Kavanagh explained. “I’d be surprised if it can go two rounds. I’d be surprised. He just hits too hard. He’s too sharp. Is there gonna be scrappiness and take down stuff? Maybe. But, every round starts on the feet, and his ability to get back there is underestimated. So, I’d be surprised if we see two rounds.”

Who do you think wins at UFC 303: Conor McGregor or Michael Chandler?