Lone’er Kavanagh hasn’t even been on the UFC roster for a month, but he’s not afraid to inform the world where he thinks he’ll find yourself.
Looking into his crystal ball, Kavanagh (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) sees high-end contender status a reality 18 months from now – with potential championship gold coming shortly thereafter.
“For me, I’ve already told my manager Jose (Diaz), with First Round Management, my goal is to develop into UFC champion in two years,” Kavanagh recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “So whatever I actually have to do to get there, I’m ready for it. I’ll take fights. I’m not here to stay about. I would like to get to the highest as fast as I can principally. Say, in a year-and-a-half, I would like to be on that top. I hope to be up within the rankings. I hope to be closer to those shots.”
Kavanagh, 25, still has loads to prove before his goal becomes reality, but he made himself known to international audiences in emphatic fashion three weeks ago. Kavanagh was the primary fight of Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 8 – and kicked off the show with a bang when he blasted previously-unbeaten An Tuan Ho into the shadow realm for an elongated time frame.
The ability displayed was generated through years of MMA-specific technique and strength training, yes. But Kavanagh credits much of physical abilities to a sport atypical of launching many fighters’ careers.
“I used to do gymnastics from a young age,” Kavanagh said. “I began once I was like two or three. I’m surrounded by sports my entire life principally. … I did gymnastics for a very very long time. I began once I was like two. … I did that until I used to be like 10 or 11. That set my foundation. … I’ve definitely had that feedback before, so I believe gymnastics helped with that. I believe probably the most thing that it helped with is just having that awareness of where your body is. While you move and stuff like that, it just gives you that awareness. In the event you’re able, you already know how you can stay relaxed in that position. It’s helped massively with fighting.”
Kavanagh is anticipated to make his official octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 247 in Macau on Nov. 23 when he takes on Jose Ochoa.
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