Coach calls 1-minute KO for McGregor if Mayweather 'doesn't take a back step'

John Kavanagh has channeled his inner-"Mystic Mac" ahead of Saturday's superfight.

The SBG Ireland head man joined "The MMA Hour" on Monday to predict Conor McGregor's path to victory in his upcoming boxing tilt with Floyd Mayweather, and he didn't mince words. Whether Mayweather opts to stand and trade or flash his patented defensive style, Kavanagh said the result would be the same: a KO victory for his prized pupil.

"When the two of them walk to the middle, one of them has to take a back step," Kavanagh said. "If Floyd takes a back step, which I believe he will, then I predict Round 6. That's my prediction on it. I think for the first five rounds, he'll back up, he will lay on the ropes the way he does, he will cover up, and try to just absorb and wear Conor down. That's how I think he'll approach the fight."

Should Mayweather do the stalking as he's repeatedly vowed, Kavanagh predicted McGregor would be in for an even shorter night's work, with Mayweather succumbing to the Irishman's deadly mitts within 60 seconds.

"If he doesn't take a back step - and we'll all see their feet, we'll all see who walks backwards - if he walks forward and exchanges, it'll be a one-round fight. It'll be over in a minute. Because he'd be fighting in such a way that's not normal to him and he won't have had time to develop the skill set for an aggressive, exchanging fighter.

"For him to go in there and try to trade with Conor and not walk backwards would be so alien to him, but so normal for Conor - it's exactly what Conor's the best at - he'll be unconscious in a minute."

McGregor initially gave himself four rounds to put the undefeated pugilist away, although he recently echoed his coach's prognosis in response to Mayweather's promise to press forward on fight night.

The UFC lightweight champ meets Mayweather on Aug. 26 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.