Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has publicly stated his intention to join Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) after fulfilling the final fight on his current UFC contract. McGregor, who is also a part-owner of BKFC, indicated that his last appearance in the UFC octagon would serve not as a retirement announcement from combat sports, but as a declaration of his move to bare-knuckle boxing.
The Irishman made these remarks during an appearance at HYPE Fighting Championship in Rome, where he expressed a strong affinity for the bare-knuckle format. He described the sport as "very exciting, very dangerous and it takes more courage." McGregor also notably commented on the physical toll of the sport, stating, "Teeth come and go, just like a nose. It means nothing."
McGregor's Recent Octagon History
McGregor's combat sports future has been a frequent topic of discussion, particularly following his recent activity in the UFC. His last outing was in July 2026 at UFC 329, where he faced Max Holloway in a welterweight rematch. McGregor, who was 37 years old at the time, lost the bout by KO/TKO in the first round at one minute and nine seconds. The pre-fight market had placed his chances of winning at 28%.
This defeat marked his third consecutive loss in the UFC. Prior to the Holloway rematch, McGregor suffered back-to-back lightweight losses to Dustin Poirier in 2021. The first encounter in January 2021 at UFC 257 saw him lose by KO/TKO punches in the second round, followed by another KO/TKO loss in July 2021 at UFC 264. His most recent victory in the UFC came in January 2020 at UFC 246, where he defeated Donald Cerrone by KO/TKO punches in just 40 seconds of the first round, also at welterweight.
Throughout his UFC career, McGregor has compiled a UFC record of 10-5-0 across 15 fights. A southpaw with a 74-inch reach and standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, his striking has long been a hallmark of his style. His grappling statistics show an average of 0.4 takedowns per fight with 36% accuracy, alongside a 60% takedown defense rate prior to his last fight.
Recovery and Future Outlook
Currently, McGregor is recovering from ACL surgery after sustaining a knee injury during his fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329. While he has one fight remaining on his UFC contract, there is no next booked UFC fight on our schedule. McGregor has reportedly targeted International Fight Week in July 2027 for his final UFC bout, though no opponent or specific date has been officially confirmed by the UFC.
BKFC chairman Dave Feldman has publicly expressed his belief that McGregor will indeed transition to bare-knuckle boxing. Feldman indicated that a move to BKFC is highly probable, provided McGregor emerges from his final UFC commitment without another significant injury.
By the numbers
| Fighter | UFC record | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Conor McGregor | 10-5-0 | unranked |
UFC records count UFC fights only. Records and rankings from UFC Stats and ufc.com.
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