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REVEALED: The UFC email REJECTING chance to sign Conor McGregor sent to coach John Kavanagh in 2012… four month before legendary champion made his debut
- 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 mid-December of that year from UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby after he was offered the opportunity to sign McGregor.
Replying to the initial initial contact made, Shelby politely made it known he wasn’t looking to bring in any 145lbers from Europe at that time, way before McGregor became 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
‘If I can use any of your fighters, especially Conor, I will contact you,’ Shelby replied.
‘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, it didn’t take long for McGregor to prove his pedigree to Shelby because less than three weeks later, he became a Cage Warriors double champion by knocking out Ivan Buchinger and consequently adding the lightweight title to his featherweight crown.
McGregor is the biggest star in UFC history but had to convince them first to sign him
Four months later, ‘The Notorious’ made his UFC debut against Marcus Brimage, and McGregor enhanced his growing reputation as he needed just a minute to knock the American out in Sweden following some devastating striking.
The second half of Kavanagh’s post was an image from the weigh-ins ahead of McGregor vs. Chad Mendes in July 2015.
An estimated 10,000 fans packed into the MGM Grand Garden Arena in La Vegas to see the featherweights hit the scales before a second-round TKO win for the Irishman in the fight itself.
McGregor responded to his coach’s post, replying: ‘Incredible. Sean had me scouted long before anyone else.’
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 man in UFC history to become a concurrent two-weight champion.
He reigned over the featherweight and lightweight divisions, securing the former with the fastest knockout in a UFC title match ever at 13 seconds against Jose Aldo.
He also stepped into a boxing ring with the legendary Floyd Mayweather for 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
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