Conor McGregor Teases UFC Exit and BKFC Move After 2027

Conor McGregor already has big plans beyond the UFC after a potential farewell in 2027.

The former two-division champion recently spoke with Spitfire Gym Berlin while attending a Hype Italy event featuring Colby Covington and Raul Rosas Jr.

During that conversation, he revealed that he plans to step inside the ring of his own promotion once his UFC chapter comes to an end.

"Bare knuckle; I really enjoy bare knuckle fighting," McGregor said.

"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?"

"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 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.

"Big chance! Big chance!" he said.

"I'm gonna lay off my gloves in that octagon for my final UFC contract, but not to retire; to announce bare-knuckle!"

This comes after a devastating setback at UFC 329.

What was supposed to be a triumphant comeback turned into a nightmare of massive proportions for the Irishman.

The former two-division champion finally returned to the Octagon after more than 1,800 days, making his first appearance since July 2021, when he suffered a horrific leg injury against Dustin Poirier.

Unfortunately for "The Notorious," things went from bad to worse.

He tore his ACL and meniscus before losing to Max Holloway in just 69 seconds.

McGregor has since undergone knee surgery and is now facing another potential year-long layoff.

Despite the latest setback, McGregor has promised to fight out the final bout of his current UFC contract.

A potential trilogy fight against Holloway has also been discussed.

However, the Irishman reportedly has bigger plans beyond the UFC and wants to make his final MMA appearance before pursuing a new career in BKFC, the bare-knuckle promotion he co-owns.

There is currently no indication of where and when McGregor's final fight in the UFC is going to take place.

But as a part-owner of the BKFC promotion himself, it is not surprising that he is considering a move into the sport.

If McGregor does decide to ply his trade in the bare-knuckle promotion, it will be huge for the sport and will likely make McGregor and BKFC a huge amount of money.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, or BKFC, is a combat sport promotion based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It is the first promotion of its kind to hold a state-sanctioned and legalized bare-knuckle event in the United States since 1889.

McGregor became a co-owner of BKFC in April 2024, according to multiple reports.

The move was seen as a strategic play to give the Irishman a stake in a rival organization while still under contract with the UFC.

At the same event, a separate viral clip emerged that showed McGregor apparently laughing at Colby Covington's brutal loss to Raul Rosas Jr.

McGregor quickly slammed that clip, posting on social media: "This is false and fully edited."

The denial underscores the complicated media landscape around McGregor, where every public moment is scrutinized and often manipulated.