Conor McGregor diversified his career path just over a year ago by entering the realm of fight promotion, though he maintains that he hasn`t retired from competing himself just yet.
The former two-weight UFC champion surprised the combat sports community last April when he became involved in bare-knuckle boxing.
Through his company, McGregor Sports and Entertainment, he acquired a significant stake in the rapidly growing Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). This move, along with taking on a promotional role, led many of his fans to wonder if his fighting days were over.
However, McGregor couldn`t resist getting involved with BKFC after being thoroughly impressed by what he described as the promotion`s “beautiful violence.”
In a recent exclusive interview, “The Notorious” referred to BKFC as a “major, major player” in the industry that is “growing fast” and possesses an “unbelievable,” “rock-solid foundation” thanks to its roster of fighters and dedicated team. He stated, “This is a serious player in the game.”
McGregor believes that BKFC`s surge in popularity has been facilitated by the stagnation experienced by several other combat sports promotions, including the UFC.
He commented, “In that time… certain things have hit almost a plateau… And all of a sudden, bare knuckle arises… And I`m right there with it. The timing was impeccable.”
The 36-year-old fighter has become fascinated by the intense and brutal nature of BKFC, which is quickly gaining global acceptance. He`s even expressed a desire to potentially test himself in the sport one day, referring to his role as that of a “player-manager” in this venture.
McGregor has not competed in any combat sport since suffering a broken left leg in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier almost four years ago. He was initially scheduled to make his return to the octagon last June against Michael Chandler but was forced to withdraw due to a broken left pinky toe.
In March, the Dublin native suggested that his fighting career might be over, indicating contentment with his past achievements. However, he has since reversed this position, recently challenging Chandler on X (formerly Twitter) following Chandler`s loss last month. McGregor declared he would only return for a “stadium” fight and that there remains “unfinished business” between them.
Should McGregor step into a fight again, it would mark his first competition since being found civilly liable for assaulting Nikita Hand at a Dublin Hotel in December 2018. The former two-division champion appealed the civil court verdict last month, hoping that the introduction of new evidence will result in the decision being overturned.
Elton Marrow