Darragh Kelly hails 'invaluable' work with Conor McGregor ahead of cage return

Darragh Kelly had the benefit of a few spars with Conor McGregor until the 'Notorious' picked up a recent injury.

'Moville Mauler' Kelly (5-0) is back in the cage on Saturday night when he faces Frenchman Mathias Poiron (7-1) at the 3Arena on a Bellator Champions Series card.

Kelly hasn't fought since a ground-and-pound win over Jelle Zeegers in Dublin last September.

The 26-year-old is keen to make headway following a recent injury of his own.

Kelly trains out of the Straight Blast Gym in Dublin, where UFC star McGregor is based and they are both coached by John Kavanagh.

“I had a few spars in with Conor until the injury,” Kelly told Donegal Live. “Conor was in the gym every day. I sparred with him a few times and had a few private sessions with him too.”

McGregor was at cageside in February when Kelly, on his professional debut, stopped Junior Morgan in the opening round of their clash at Bellator 275.

Kelly said: “Even just being around Conor, and knowing all that he has accomplished in the sport, it actually lifts the whole gym when he has been in training.

“The work and training with Conor, it's invaluable. He is intense and you have to step it up. You have to be really on your game because he demands such high standards.”

McGregor has been out of the cage since July 2021 when he broke a leg during a fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

McGregor was due to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at the end of June, but the Dubliner has withdrawn due to an undisclosed injury.