CONOR McGREGOR "hasn't lost a beat" despite missing a YEAR of action due to injury, according to his coach.
The Irish UFC legend, 34, has been out of action since breaking his leg during his defeat to Dustin Poirier last July.
McGregor has been working hard to get back into the octagon in recent months, with Kamaru Usman, Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler all linked.
Notorious has taken a huge leap towards his next fight after returning to full-contact training.
And coach John Kavanagh has revealed McGregor is "looking great" in training after taking part in a jiu-jitsu class at his gym in Dublin this week.
Kavanagh said: "He's healthy, happy and it's great to have him back.
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"The last few sessions in the gym here were MMA-orientated – he's got the all-clear for that now.
"He did a great session last night, we got some great rounds in. He hasn't lost a beat and was looking great.
"Trust me, I got to have a bit of a wrestle with him last night and I felt it…
"When that silverback arm goes around your neck there's a bit of an extra squeeze there… he's very, very strong at the moment."
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On his return to the octagon, Kavanagh remained tight-lipped.
He added: "When we get to the stage of looking at weight classes and opponents there's nobody more professional than Conor at making weight and it will all be done properly."
Kavanagh was full of praise for McGregor's attitude, though – and compared his jiu-jitsu class to Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi rocking up at the park for a kickabout.
The coach continued: "He just walks in and takes part in a regular jiu-jitsu class, and you've got guys on the mat there who have only been training a couple of months.
"So imagine like a group of guys on the park having a kickaround, and then Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo comes up and says 'hey, I'll join in'.
"It really elevates everybody's attitude on the mat."
Kavanagh hopes fans will finally start to look past Notorious' "glitzy" persona – and lifted the lid on the real Conor McGregor.
He concluded: "I always tell people, they see this kind of performance part of his persona.
"It's two or three times a year, at the press conferences and it's all very loud and glitzy and glamour and entertainment, but it's the 52-weeks-of-the-year guy that part of me wishes some people would be more aware of.
"How he is walking on the mat, he gives a handshake to everybody, and is always incredibly respectful towards me as a coach, saying 'yes sir and no sir', and lining up at the end of the class when everybody bows down.
"He's got that true kind of martial arts personality. He comes in and approaches training with such a focus and positive energy, and really puts everything into every drill.
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"And then of course he's always incredibly generous with his praise, and it's very well received.
"He's a very very special part of the gym, as a whole, and I'll say my life."
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