REVEALED: The UFC email REJECTING chance to sign Conor McGregor sent to coach John Kavanagh in 2012… four months before he made his debut, became ‘Notorious’ and the biggest sensation ever in MMA
- John Kavanagh was taking part in a social media trend when posting the email
- Sean Shelby said he was not looking to bring Conor McGregor in at that time
- McGregor convinced Shelby after becoming a Cage Warriors double champions
- The Irishman, now 32, made his UFC debut against Marcus Brimage in April 2013
Conor McGregor’s head coach John Kavanagh has revealed an email showing UFC rejecting the chance to sign the Irishman back in 2012.
Kavanagh was taking part in the latest social media trend ‘How it started… How it’s going’ on Friday when he posted a picture on Instagram of an email received in December of that year from UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby.
In the email though, Shelby – in response to Haraldur Nelson, founder and chief executive of Icelandic MMA club Mjolnir MMA – declared he was not looking to bring McGregor in, way before he would become the biggest star UFC has ever seen.
Conor McGregor’s head coach has revealed UFC rejected the chance to sign him in 2012
John Kavanagh was taking part in a social media trend when he posted the rejection email
UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby said he wasn’t looking to bring in any 145lbers from Europe
‘If I can use any of your fighters, especially Conor, I will contact you,’ Shelby said.
‘At the moment, the featherweight division is terribly impacted from so many UFC lightweights moving down in weight.
‘So, I’m not looking to sign anyone else for a while, but, hopefully, it will clear up soon and guys like Conor will get the opportunity.’
However, McGregor did not take long to prove his worth to Shelby because less than a month later, ‘The Notorious’ was a Cage Warriors double champion by knocking out Ivan Buchinger to consequently combine a lightweight title with his featherweight title.
He was still fighting at Cage Warriors in 2012 against the likes of Dave Hill in Dublin in June
Initial contact with UFC was made by Haraldur Nelson (right), father of MMA star Gunnar (left)
However, Shelby (above) insisted he was not interested in signing McGregor at the time
McGregor then made his UFC debut in April 2013 against Marcus Brimage, and he managed to enhance his growing stock in the ring as he needed little time in knocking the American out in Stockholm.
The second part of Kavanagh’s post on the other hand was an image from the weigh-ins ahead of McGregor’s bout against Chad Mendes in July 2015.
Around 10,000 supporters made it into the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for the weigh-ins before a second-round TKO win for the Irishman in the fight itself.
McGregor responded to his head coach’s post, replying: ‘Incredible. Sean had me scouted long before anyone else.’
McGregor is the biggest star in UFC history but had to convince them first to sign him
McGregor made his UFC debut against Marcus Brimage and knocked him out in a minute
Kavanagh’s second post was from a weigh in before McGregor defeated Chad Mendes in 2015
Since his 2013 debut, McGregor has become a sensation and was the first fighter in UFC history to become a champion in two weights at the same time.
He championed in the featherweight and lightweight divisions, securing the former with the fastest knockout in a title match against Jose Aldo.
He also fought boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in one of the most lucrative fights ever.
McGregor hung up his gloves in June for the third time in four years, but has now claimed that he has accepted an offer for a rematch against Dustin Poirier.
The 32-year-old however insists the fight must take place this year, but appeared ready to return to the Octagon after taking to social media to reveal his plans for a rematch after he eased to victory against the same opponent in 2014.
McGregor has become a sensation and even fought Floyd Mayweather in the boxing ring
He is set to return after retiring in June to face Dustin Poirier six years on from their last fight