Conor McGregor hosts WILD BKFC final faceoffs, says debut match imminent: “You’ll just hear my music”

UFC superstar Conor McGregor arbitrates wild BKFC: KnuckleMania 5 final staredowns, before Saturday's card on DAZN PPV.

Conor McGregor hosts WILD BKFC final faceoffs, says debut match imminent: “You’ll just hear my music”

Video: Conor McGregor referees wild BKFC: KnuckleMania 5 final staredowns (Source: X)

The fifth annual KnuckleMania event will kick off the BKFC’s 2025 schedule in style. It all goes down inside Wells Fargo Center at BKFC KnuckleMania 5 LIVE on DAZN PPV (Pay-per-view). UFC superstar Conor McGregor was on hand for the final staredowns, as part of his part-owner duties. Live weigh-ins streamed from around 6 p.m. ET, on DAZN.

BKFC: KnuckleMania 5 takes shape, Saturday in Philadelphia. A wild Conor McGregor was already on hand for presser duties with his usual ensemble of one-liners. Headlining the card is former UFC Lightweight/Philly native Eddie Alvarez. He’ll take on veteran brawler Jeremy Stephens. In a post-presser media round with The Schmo a cycle back, McGregor also beamed that he wants in on BKFC action.

One of these days, …you’ll just hear my music come onto this stage…in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and I’ll have my fist wrapped with no gloves for a fight, out of nowhere — No promotion. No promo…No nothing. Just fighting a random fight on the card. That could be what the future holds.

Conor McGregor to The Schmo via the Schmozone Podcast (@theschmo312)
YouTube video

It’s something “The Notorious” leaned on yet again, at the tail end of the weekend, at ceremonial weigh-ins. Away from a UFC fight, BKFC’s part-owner, Conor McGregor, finds more elements common here than in the octagon. Those include notable BKFC stars coming from UFC ranks as well. McGregor was even in attendance at BKFC on DAZN: Spain weigh-ins. He held hosting duties in the new landscape.

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McGregor Sports & Entertainment and Triller TV were also part of the BKFC 68 card from inside the Utilita Arena in Newcastle. The Co Dubliner man is still living up to his missed beat of a June return last year, at UFC 303. He pulled out of kickoff media availability at 3Arena due to injury.

Now that his return is in (again) in the cold, McGregor isn’t shying from free agency and striking bare-knuckle bravado. To that end, he said UFC wasn’t taking in his boxing option well.

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While McGregor vs. Logan Paul wouldn’t have gone down too well for purists, there’s no denying that it was a biggie. As BKFC: KnuckleMania 5 proved, even the former UFC champ is angsty for a combat sport return; any combat sports return; bare-knuckle even.

The former double champion has glued himself to watching BKFC on screen and reposting Ruben Warr’s 6-second KO at BKFC Fight Night Pechanga, and doing money drops in rare appearances as a promoter.

UFC superstar Conor McGregor's return still in limbo
UFC superstar Conor McGregor’s return still in limbo (Source: X)

UFC, and its parent TKO Group Holdings helm both “Notorious” and Paul’s WWE. They were in a prime spot to offer their blessing for this PPV sweet spotlight and a $250 million fight purse to box in India. The doubts that Conor McGregor would “actually” pull off another boxing stint under the UFC contract were well founded. He says brass put cold water on it and was not really interested.

It is what it is, …the UFC just aren’t into it. The offer was there on the table, in writing. Both athletes will say, ‘He’s not fighting,’ but both athlete are under the TKO banner. UFC, WWE both rising up. The stock price of TKO Holding Ground through the roof. New market in India opened up and booming. It was business savvy, and business sense to make the fight happen…Or should I say the glorified spar happen.

Conor McGregor to The Schmo via the Schmozone Podcast (@theschmo312)
YouTube video
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McGregor is leaning towards fighting randomly and moving into influencer boxing. He is bleeding upward of €248,000 in damages (£206,000 /$260,000 all-in), plus legal fees, plus millions in severance to a Dublin Civil court case.

McGregor was also fined €1,000 in 2019 for the assault of Desmond Keogh in a Dublin pub. Top brands have swayed away from keeping him on media duties except BKFC. His infamy is down in the gutter and the scope of booking him for a fight is still not a guarantee. The UFC keeps pushing back his comeback schedule. Right now, top brass projects a fall return, if at all.

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