Conor McGregor is set to return to the UFC in June against Michael Chandler, but the former UFC two-division champion could add another title to his long list of accomplishments.
On Saturday night in Los Angeles, California, McGregor, 35, attended the BKFC Knucklemania 4 event, which featured a match between UFC veterans Mike Perry and Thiago Alves.
Perry won decisively with a first-round finish, but that wasn't the main reason McGregor, who had attended the previous BKFC event a year ago, was in attendance.
During the pay-per-view broadcast, which was included in BKFC's $50 annual subscription and streamed OTT for just $25, McGregor made the unexpected announcement that he had agreed to take ownership within the organization.
McGregor praised BKFC president and David Feldman on the broadcast.
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“The 'Notorious' Conor McGregor is here… Conor McGregor myself and McGregor Sports and Entertainment are now the owners of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship,” McGregor said. (H/T: marca). “Welcome to the big leagues. David Feldman, baby, we did it.”
As of press time, Triller TV, which is accessible worldwide and broadcasts multiple sports including boxing, BKFC, soccer and more, remains the majority owner. McGregor and McGregor Sports and Entertainment will be co-owners, but will play a key role in business operations and decision-making.
Feldman was quick to praise McGregor in the post-event press conference, saying that their relationship had blossomed over the last year and that the deal was a natural fit.
“We had incredible conversations and were already exchanging great ideas,” Feldman said. (H/T: mma combat) That was funny; I was telling my wife, “I've been dying to get Conor McGregor to call me, and he still won't stop calling me.'' can't believe it. But he's very excited about this. I really think it takes it to the next level. ”
Feldman said the UFC doesn't have to worry about McGregor's involvement just yet, but he sees BKFC as a legitimate threat to the MMA leader in the future. Feldman was quick to praise White's success running the UFC and growing MMA.
“Listen, Dana White has a huge relationship with the UFC,” Feldman said. “Conor McGregor certainly moved the needle for them, but [White]Great success without [McGregor] — He’s not fighting for us. I'm just saying, is he promoting a product for us? who knows? You're probably a little angry. Your number one star will be talking about another company, so you're probably not very happy about it. But he's not worried about us. still. “
McGregor hasn't competed in MMA since 2021, and has been sidelined since suffering a severe shin bone injury against Dustin Poirier. The Irishman briefly returned to the UFC, but in a different role, serving as TUF's 31 coach last summer in anticipation of a matchup with Chandler.
UFC 303 will take place on June 29th in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will be the setting for UFC's 12th International Fight Week, which McGregor headlined in July 2015.
What will be the involvement of “The Notorious” in BKFC?
That remains to be seen.
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