Conor McGregor's empire is expanding.
The former UFC two-division champion is now part-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, he announced during Saturday night's BKFC KnuckleMania 4 card.
“The 'Notorious' Conor McGregor is here,” McGregor said in a video aired before the night's co-main event. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a big announcement today. Conor McGregor himself and McGregor Sports and Entertainment are now the owners of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.”
“Welcome to the big leagues. David Feldman, baby, we did it,” McGregor said, referring to the BKFC president.
Triller will remain a majority shareholder in the promotion, with McGregor Sports and Entertainment joining as co-owner.
McGregor appeared at a BKFC event last year and expressed his desire to compete for the promotion. He even had an impromptu showdown with Mike Perry, who knocked out Thiago Alves in the main event of Knucklemania 4.
Rather than compete right away, McGregor, who is scheduled to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June, has found another way to become part of the world's largest bare-knuckle organization. Prior to this announcement, McGregor's Proper Twelve and Forged Irish Stout were sponsorship partners for the promotion.
“I think this is going to move the needle in a big way,” BKFC Chairman David Feldman said. “We're going to do a lot of big things. We're going to open up a lot of new markets.”
The partnership with McGregor is likely to expand BKFC's reach with McGregor's promotional abilities, making it a destination for fighters to try their hand at bare-knuckle competition.