Conor McGregor's coach John Kavanagh claims that the UFC kicked him and team Straight Blast Gym (SBG) out of the venue after the Johnny Walker fight. Kavanagh shared a series of tweets that showed the team leaving the T-Mobile Arena.
Johnny Walker returned to winning ways against Ion Cutelaba at UFC 279 with a first-round submission victory. The Brazilian trained extensively at the gym in Ireland. SBG Ireland, which forged UFC superstar Conor McGregor, has played an instrumental role in Walker's return to winning ways.
John Kavanagh took to Twitter to inform everyone about the UFC's handling of his team:
''So @ufc just came and kicked us out. No tickets for us and not allowed stay back stage to watch. Pulled out back door, kicked out, no even shoes on''
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In another video posted by Conor McGregor's coach, Walker can be seen exiting the venue with no shoes and his fighting gloves still on.
UFC featherweight Chase Hooper chimed in with his take, claiming that the UFC has adopted this new protocol following COVID-19:
''I’m pretty confident that’s the same thing they’ve been doing since COVID. They have you pack your bag up before you walkout to fight and they get you in and out. Not sure if there’s more to this, or if it’s just the same treatment everybody gets''
Conor McGregor's coach John Kavanagh reacts to Nate Diaz's victory against Tony Ferguson, calls for a trilogy fight
Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz helped elevate the UFC to greater heights with their two bouts at UFC 196 and UFC 202.
At UFC 279, Nate Diaz successfully fought out his contractual obligations with the UFC by beating Tony Ferguson with a guillotine choke in the fourth round.
John Kavanagh once famously drew comparisons between his pupil and Diaz by claiming that it reminded him of the rivalry between The Joker and Batman:
"Look, the Nate trilogy is like Batman vs. Joker, they're going to face each other forever. They're just perfectly made opponents, it's great fun, the build-up, and there's a respect, I won't say it's begrudging. They snipe at each other, but there's a bit of a tip of the hat to each other as well because they're both warriors and great fighters. It would be lovely to see."
Kavangh reacted to Diaz's victory on Twitter:
''Beautiful guilly 👏🏼#trilogy''
Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz have split the two bouts between them. Diaz replaced Rafael dos Anjos on short notice and shockingly submitted McGregor in the second round in March 2016. The Irishman leveled the scores in August of the same year with a majority decision victory.