Lone'er Kavanagh aims for UFC gold within two years, details how gymnastics laid foundation

Lone'er Kavanagh hasn’t even been on the UFC roster for a month, but he’s not afraid to tell the world where he thinks he’ll end up.

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 become UFC champion in two years,” Kavanagh recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “So whatever I have to do to get there, I’m ready for it. I’ll take fights. I’m not here to stick about. I want to get to the top as fast as I can basically. Say, in a year-and-a-half, I want to be on that top. I hope to be up in the rankings. I hope to be closer to those shots.”

Kavanagh, 25, still has a lot to prove before his goal becomes reality, but he made himself known to international audiences in emphatic fashion three weeks ago. Kavanagh was the first 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 period of time.

The power 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 started when I was like two or three. I’m surrounded by sports my entire life basically. … I did gymnastics for a really long time. I started when I was like two. … I did that until I was like 10 or 11. That set my foundation. … I’ve definitely had that feedback before, so I think gymnastics helped with that. I think the most thing that it helped with is just having that awareness of where your body is. When you move and stuff like that, it just gives you that awareness. If you’re in a position, you know how to stay relaxed in that position. It’s helped massively with fighting.”

Kavanagh is expected to make his official octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 247 in Macau on Nov. 23 when he takes on Jose Ochoa.