Conor McGregor plans bare-knuckle move after last UFC fight
In Rome, the 38-year-old Irishman said he will lay down his gloves in the Octagon but will not retire, giving bare knuckle a “big chance.”
Conor McGregor said this week in Rome that he will lay down his gloves in the Octagon after the last fight on his UFC contract and move to bare-knuckle fighting instead of retiring. The 38-year-old Irishman spoke to Spitfire Gym Berlin during his trip to Hype FC, and the plan drew attention on Thursday.
McGregor was a guest at the show where Raul Rosas Jr. submitted Colby Covington in under a minute. No fight has been announced by the UFC or by the bare-knuckle promotion he co-owns.
What McGregor said in Rome
“I really enjoy bare knuckle fighting,” he said in comments published by Yahoo Sports. “I don’t think there’s any chance of a boring fight in bare knuckle.” Asked if that was really the plan, he answered: “Big chance! Big chance!”
He then explained how the move would work. “I’m going to lay down my gloves in that Octagon for my final UFC contract,” he said, adding that it would be “not to retire” but “to announce bare knuckle.”
McGregor also said the format takes more courage for him, and he joked about the risks. “Teeth come and go! Just like a nose, it means nothing!”
McGregor’s knee and his last UFC fight
First, McGregor has to get back in the cage. He tore the ACL and meniscus in his right knee at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas, when he landed badly after a flying kick against Max Holloway.
The fight ended by TKO 1:09 into the first round. It was his first Octagon appearance since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. His last win came in January 2020 against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246.
After surgery, McGregor set his sights on International Fight Week in July 2027 for his farewell. The UFC has not confirmed a date or an opponent. Holloway has talked about a third fight, and McGregor has shown interest in a rematch too.
McGregor’s ties to BKFC
McGregor has one fight left on his UFC contract. In September, he said that fight was all that stood between him and free agency. He became a part owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, or BKFC, in April 2024, with the news revealed at Knucklemania IV.
BKFC president David Feldman has spoken as if the debut is only a matter of time. After BKFC 92 at Fenway Park in Boston in August, he said McGregor would finish his UFC run and then “sell this whole f**king stadium out.”
A Brazilian has already made the move from the Octagon to BKFC. Former UFC title challenger Thiago Alves became the promotion’s first middleweight champion by beating Ulysses Diaz in Miami in June 2021.
The same week, Renato Moicano also talked about finishing his UFC contract and leaving MMA for boxing after three more fights.
Do you want to see Conor McGregor in bare-knuckle fighting after his last UFC fight? Tell us what you think in the comments.
Read more:
- Raul Rosas Jr. submits Covington as McGregor denies mocking
- Renato Moicano plans MMA exit after three more UFC fights
- Charles Oliveira says UFC won’t let him compete in jiu-jitsu
