Conor McGregor Plans BKFC Move After Final UFC Fight

Conor McGregor has revealed that he will use his final UFC fight to announce a move to bare-knuckle fighting.

The former two-division champion opened up about his plans during a conversation with Ruben von Malotky at Hype Italy in Rome.

When asked whether fans would ever see him fight bare-knuckle, McGregor replied: "Big chance, big chance, big chance."

McGregor, 38, has just one fight left on his UFC deal.

But he does not see it as a farewell.

Instead, he plans to use the moment to announce his next move.

He said: "I'm gonna lay down my gloves in that octagon for my final UFC contract, but not to retire, to announce bare knuckle."

This is not the first time Conor McGregor has teased the move.

At a BKFC Italy press conference, he promised to fight for the promotion one day and even set his sights on a title.

He said: "Conor McGregor will fight in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, mark my words... I would wish to be the Bare Knuckle world champion."

McGregor has been a co-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship since April 2024.

So far, the Irishman has only been involved from outside the ring.

Now, he has revealed that he wants to fight under the BKFC banner himself once his UFC contract is over.

During the same conversation with Ruben von Malotky, McGregor explained what draws him to the sport.

In his view, fighting without gloves takes a different kind of nerve.

He added: "You know, bare knuckle is very exciting, very dangerous, and it takes a lot of courage... So I'm looking forward to a bare knuckle fight myself."

"Yeah, teeth come and go. Just like a nose, it means nothing. I'm all in, I'm all in, I'm all in."

For McGregor, his UFC comeback in July did not go as he planned.

In his first fight since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021, he tore the ACL and meniscus in his right knee while throwing a jumping switch kick.

Thereafter, Max Holloway won by TKO just 69 seconds into their UFC 329 rematch.

McGregor had surgery in August and shared his journey on his Instagram.

He wrote: "Surgery went excellent! I am confident."

For now, Conor McGregor is planning a summer return for his last dance.

A trilogy bout against Holloway looks like the most likely option, as "Blessed" has said that he is willing to fight again.

McGregor has already floated a few names for his potential BKFC debut.

Speaking at a BKFC press conference in February 2025, he mentioned Mike Perry, Jeremy Stephens and a rematch with former UFC rival Eddie Alvarez.

He also expressed his desire to become a bare-knuckle world champion.

"There are many showcase bouts. You could say Mike Perry. You could say Jeremy Stephens. You could say a rematch against Eddie Alvarez. You could say many matches... I am open. We will see when it comes," McGregor said.

Perry has previously shared the ring with McGregor.

The two faced off at BKFC 41 in 2023, after Perry stopped Luke Rockhold.

McGregor even told him, "I'd fight you, I'd fight you no problem, Mike."

The former double champion also opened up about his plans for the future, making it clear that he doesn't intend to walk away from combat sports after his final UFC appearance.

He said: "Bare knuckle; I really enjoy bare knuckle fighting. I don't think there's any chance of a boring fight in bare knuckle. Now, I am a mixed martial artist; maybe I'm just saying this because I had a bad time out the last time?"

McGregor added: "Good MMA, really good MMA, is hard to beat. But bare-knuckle is very exciting, very dangerous, and it takes more courage for me, I think, to get in. So, I'm looking forward to a bare-knuckle fight myself."

The Irishman has seen many former UFC fighters like Mike Perry, Michael 'Venom' Page and even ex-champions like Eddie Alvarez and Luke Rockhold compete in it.

While McGregor did seem to announce that his next UFC fight would be his final fight, it appears he will not be ending his combat sports career.

After all, the former double champion has teased a bare-knuckle bout several times over the years.

Nonetheless, that will have to wait till his final UFC fight goes down.