The Irish fighter is making his grand return to the octagon when he takes on the “Cowboy” at UFC 246 in Las Vegas.
McGregor is currently a brown belt in jiu jitsu, but should he use his skills to stop Cerrone, it is likely that will be upgraded.
That’s the opinion of regular talkSPORT regular and boxing journalist Gareth A Davies – and it could happen almost immediately.
Davies said: “If he submitted Cerrone he’d get a black belt straight away and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was announced in the cage.
“He will get his black belt. He’s a lifelong martial artist.”
His coach and the first man in Ireland to receive a jiu jitsu black belt John Kavanagh told Business Insider that “it’s coming”.
Conor with a little more boxing, he throws kicks now and again but his boxing is f***ing awesomeCain Velasquez on Conor McGregor
And a stoppage win is exactly what UFC legend Cain Velasquez thinks will happen in Sin City.
Speaking to SunSport former two-time UFC heavyweight champ, 37, said: “I think it will be a great fight. Both guys are really talented, both have great stand up.
“Conor with a little more boxing, he throws kicks now and again but his boxing is f***ing awesome.
“He hits hard, he is fast, he has good defence but the only thing with Conor is that he ends up gassing a little bit towards the end of the fight, that’s the only thing.
“Cerrone is a great kickboxer, great kicks and really good jiu-jitsu as well.
“I give Conor the fight on the feet, unless it’s the fourth or fifth round, then I give it to Cerrone.
“And on the ground I give to Cerrone unless Conor is on top throwing some hard ground ‘n’ pound.
“I think Conor wins the fight if it’s early. If it’s in the three rounds I give it to him because of how explosive he is.
“If he gets gassed, when you get tired, it makes cowards out of everyone.
“I think Conor has extreme talent, his boxing is legit, we saw that against Mayweather. With how fast he is with his hands and how hard he hits, he will win the fight.”
