Conor McGregor's black belt in jiu jitsu 'is coming,' his head trainer John Kavanagh says

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Conor McGregor's black belt in jiu jitsu 'is coming,' his head trainer John Kavanagh says
Conor McGregor judo throws John Kavanagh

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Conor McGregor and John Kavanagh on the mat.

  • Conor McGregor's black belt in jiu jitsu is coming, his head coach John Kavanagh told Business Insider.
  • The Dublin fighter currently has brown belt status and though he is one rung below black, he is more revered for his ability during stand-up combat.
  • But should McGregor submit his UFC 246 opponent Donald Cerrone in their non-title welterweight fight on Saturday, he'll get a black belt straight away. It would be "announced in the cage," an MMA expert told us.
  • Regardless, McGregor is expected to either decision or KO Cerrone, rather than submit him.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

LAS VEGAS - Conor McGregor is already an expert striker with a ferocious left-handed power punch, but he also has an ever-developing ground game and will soon be a black belt in jiu jitsu.

That is according to his head coach John Kavanagh, who told Business Insider this week that McGregor, who is currently a brown belt, will, "of course be a black belt … it's coming."

A pioneer of martial arts in Ireland, Kavanagh is the first man in his country to receive a black belt in jiu jitsu. And when asked what McGregor has to do, to go from a brown belt to black, Kavanagh laughed. "You can't ask me that! That's more personal than asking me when me and [my partner] Orlagh are getting married!"

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The Telegraph's combat sports columnist Gareth A. Davies said McGregor could receive his black belt in two days - all he has to do is submit his UFC 246 opponent Donald Cerrone at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, January 18.

"If he submitted Cerrone he'd get a black belt straight away and I wouldn't be surprised if it was announced in the cage," Davies said. "He will get his black belt. He's a lifelong martial artist."

McGregor is expected to decision or KO Cerrone, rather than submit him

Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone at UFC 246

Photo by AP Photo/John Locher

McGregor and Cerrone face off for the media.

One advantage Cerrone has over McGregor is experience. "That's what Donald brings," McGregor's coach Kavanagh told us.

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"He's fought twice as much as Conor and there's no substitute for that amount of experience. He's a good all-rounder, he can submit you, decision you, and knock you out. He is a formidable opponent, very enjoyable to prepare for, and we're very well prepared."

So well prepared, Davies tips McGregor to walk away with a win.

"It could be a close fight but Conor wins," Davies said. "Cerrone will put everything into this. The ground is dangerous [for McGregor], but Conor does it [wins]."

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