CONOR MCGREGOR will only shrink back down to 155lbs for a shot at the lightweight title arch nemesis Khabib Nurmagomedov currently owns.

The 31-year-old Irishman ruined Donald Cerrone inside 40 seconds on Saturday night, in his third showing in the 170lb welterweight division.

The star-studded weight class is packed with big-money fights like a Nate Diaz trilogy or grudge match with Jorge Masvidal.

Khabib defends his belt against Tony Ferguson, another mouthwatering potential McGregor rival, on April 18.

And Irish MMA pioneer and McGregor coach John Kavanagh only wants his star pupil to drain himself down to 15lbs if he is getting back his former title.

He told ESPN: “He always had an incredibly high fight IQ and that is now married to Olympic-level athleticism, which is fantastic and terrifying at the same time.

“Unless the title is on the line, I do not see the reason to cut weight.

"There has to be a belt on the line, otherwise why would he do it?

“Stay at this weight, don’t cut any weight, and when the big one comes along he can shed the last 15lbs.”

McGregor insists he will stay in training to be ready to step in if either of the injury-prone pair pulls out of their clash.

And, if that doesn't happen his trainer said he will fight briefly before or after that showdown so it is easier to challenge the next man to hold his old belt.

Kavanagh said: “I would be very surprised if he did not compete before the summer.

"There was talk of March or April, he will definitely compete before the summer.

“We will get ready and prepare for the April fight in case of those guys is unfortunate enough to not be able to make the walk, we will be ready to go.

“If the guys make it and that fight is not there, then we schedule in for a week or two after that so we are on the same timeline for a fight with one of those guys for the title fight.”

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