LONE’ER KAVANAGH is more than happy with the pace he’s moving at in the UFC.
But he wants to mix it with the flyweight division’s elite after a statement-making win over Charles Johnson this weekend.
GETTYLone’er Kavanagh punched his ticket to the UFC on Dana White’s Contenders Series last year[/caption]
GETTYKavanagh has gone a perfect 2-0 in mixed martial arts’ top promotion[/caption]
GETTYHis best display came in his March showdown with Felipe dos Santos at UFC London[/caption]
GETTYThe Great Britain Top Team prospect is ready to kick things up a gear[/caption]
The UK’s hottest prospect will be back in action on Saturday morning on a stacked UFC Fight Night card in Shanghai.
Great Britain Top Team’s Kavanagh was given a baptism of fire during his brief stint in MMA‘s top promotion, which he officially entered last November, against previously highly-touted up-and-comers Jose Ochoa and Felipe dos Santos.
And after passing both tests with flying colours, he hopes a win over tricky veteran Johnson will fast-track him to showdowns against the big dogs in the 125lbs division.
When asked if he reckons if jousts against the top-15 could be soon be in his future, he told SunSport: “Yeah, I definitely agree with that.
“The flyweight division is forever moving. And after this fight, I want to be fighting [the] top 15 [or the] top ten.”
As eager as he is to test his mettle against the mainstays of the division, Kavanagh won’t be disappointed if a big name isn’t on his next bout agreement.
He said: “I’m a big believer in God’s plan. So whatever is written, I will follow.”
Followers of the domestic and European scene are well aware of Kavanagh’s immense talent, which he showcased on Cage Warriors for several years.
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GETTYLone’er Kavanagh’s talents have been well known to British and European MMA fans[/caption]
SHUTTERSTOCKHis skill set recently caught the eye of pound-for-pound king Ilia Topuria[/caption]
His impressive displays inside the octagon have gained him a slew of new fans and put him on the radar of several others.
But a showering of praise from current pound-for-pound king Ilia Topuria during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast has seen a swathe of fight fans really take notice of him.
He said of Topuria’s praise: “It’s awesome, I’m a big fan of Ilia – before I met him.
“And I don’t watch UFC at all in the end. But I watch Ilia.
“So I’m a big, big fan of him. And to hear him say nice things about me, it’s awesome.”
High praise from the likes of Topuria, as well as his desired move up the ranks, will continue for Kavanagh if he gets the job done against Johnson.
After this fight, I want to be fighting [the] top 15 [or the] top ten
Lone’er Kavanagh
GETTYLone’er Kavanagh faces the toughest test of his career against veteran Charles Johson at UFC Shanghai[/caption]
Kavanagh has immense respect for the step up in competition the former LFA flyweight champion represents and is relishing testing himself against the No.15-ranked 125-er in the world.
“He’s good,” Kavanagh said of American Johnson, who had a four-fight win streak snapped by Ramazan Temirov in March. “Like you said, he’s been around for a while.
“I’m excited to show what I can do against someone that is good.”
He added: “Stylistically, I think it’s a good fight for me.
“I have the best team around me and now, I’m just excited, and I’m excited to show myself getting better and better.”
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