Conor McGregor plans final UFC fight before BKFC transition

Conor McGregor Plans Final UFC Fight and BKFC Transition

I’m gonna lay down my gloves in that octagon for my final UFC contract, but not to retire; to announce bare knuckle, Conor McGregor stated while visiting Spitfire Gym Berlin during the Hype Italy event, BoxingNews reported. The former two-division champion revealed his intention to leave the Ultimate Fighting Championship once he fulfills the final bout remaining on his current promotional contract.

McGregor has targeted a return to the Octagon in the summer of 2027 to complete that final contractual obligation. The timeline depends on his ongoing recovery from a severe right knee injury suffered on July 11 at UFC 329. During that event, which marked his first appearance in the organization in five years, McGregor tore his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus against Max Holloway just 69 seconds into the opening round.

Switching to Bare-Knuckle Combat After the Octagon

While McGregor plans to walk away from mixed martial arts competition after his next UFC assignment, he does not intend to stop fighting. Instead, the Irish star wants to transition directly to the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. McGregor acquired an ownership stake in the promotion in 2024, establishing a clear business tie to the sport before expressing his desire to step into the bare-knuckle ring himself.

I really enjoy bare-knuckle fighting, McGregor told crowds in Berlin, according to BoxingNews. I don’t think there is any chance of a boring fight in bare-knuckle. Now, I am a mixed martial artist—maybe I’m 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.

BKFC president David Feldman has previously stated that he expects McGregor to compete for the organization once his UFC commitments conclude, though no official bout has been scheduled. McGregor dismissed concerns regarding the physical toll of competing without gloves, joking to onlookers that lost teeth and damaged noses are simply part of the business.

McGregor Faces Year-Long Recovery Before Bare-Knuckle Career

Neither McGregor nor the UFC has named an opponent for the final fight of his current deal. There is interest in a trilogy bout between McGregor and Max Holloway to definitively settle the outcome of their injury-shortened UFC 329 meeting, but the promotion has not confirmed any matchups or dates.

UFC CEO Dana White indicated that McGregor will likely remain sidelined for a full year as he rehabilitates his surgically repaired knee. McGregor must complete this lengthy recovery period before he can step back into the Octagon, lay down his gloves, and officially launch his bare-knuckle career.