Conor McGregor is part owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
But the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) two-division titleholder could soon be a player, as well, if he manages to complete the final two fights on his current contract. The first step in that process is healing the broken pinky toe that sabotaged his UFC 303 comeback against Michael Chandler.
“This is a sport on the rise,” McGregor said. “With my backing, I’m confident I can strap it to a rocket ship and send it right to the moon. Come and try your trade here at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Make a new name for yourself. Look at what has happened to Michael Perry, one of our big stars here. The ‘King of Violence’ he titles himself. He’s had such a rise in the sport now he’s up against a little dweeb this weekend, we’re all rooting for him.”
Perry, 32, was released from UFC after losing four of five but has since racked up five straight wins for BKFC with three knockouts. “Platinum” will return to the “sweet science” to battle celebrity pugilist Jake Paul this weekend in Tampa (stream it here).
“This is the real deal,” McGregor continued. “No one in combat sports can speak one bad [word] about a bareknuckle fighting champion and that for me is money in the bank. For me, I have a bit business left with Ultimate Fighting Championship, two fights left on my contract, but for sure we got three lightweights up here on the dais and you know, I have my eye on all of [them]. I’m not up here just as an owner. Player-manager I’ll title myself on this one.”
McGregor is expected to make his Octagon return by the end of the year.