Former two-division Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Conor McGregor has revealed that he intends to transition to bare-knuckle fighting once he fulfills his current promotional contract with the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.
Speaking during an appearance with Spitfire Gym Berlin while attending the Hype Italy event, the Irish combat sports star shared his future career plans. McGregor stated that he has just one fight remaining on his current UFC deal and intends to make that upcoming appearance his final bout inside the famous Octagon. Rather than hanging up his gloves for good, however, the charismatic fighter plans to embark on a completely new chapter in the fast-growing world of bare-knuckle combat.
"Bare knuckle; I really enjoy bare knuckle fighting," McGregor said during the discussion. "I don’t think there’s any chance of a boring fight in bare knuckle. Now, I am a mixed martial artist, maybe I’m just saying this because I had a bad time out the last time?"
McGregor acknowledged the deep technical appreciation he holds for traditional mixed martial arts, recognizing its complexities and enduring appeal. At the same time, he emphasized the distinct allure that fighting without hand wraps or gloves holds for him at this stage of his storied career.
"Good MMA, really good MMA is hard to beat," he added. "लेकिन bare knuckle is very exciting, very dangerous, and it takes more courage for me, I think, to get in. So, I’m looking forward to a bare knuckle fight, myself."
Conor McGregor says he has one UFC fight remaining and wants to compete in bare-knuckle boxing rather than retire
The fighter known universally as "The Notorious" was quick to clarify that walking away from the UFC does not mean he is stepping away from combat sports altogether. Instead, he views his departure from the promotion as a definitive pivot toward an entirely different discipline within combat athletics.
"Big chance! Big chance!" McGregor said when asked about the possibility of retirement. "I’m gonna lay off my gloves in that octagon for my final UFC contract, but not to retire; to announce bare knuckle!"
The strategic shift aligns closely with McGregor’s business interests outside the Octagon. In 2024, the 38-year-old athlete acquired an ownership stake in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), linking his future promotional ambitions directly to the sport’s rapid commercial expansion. By investing in the organization, McGregor positioned himself not only as a marquee attraction but also as a key stakeholder in the ecosystem he now plans to enter as a competitor.
While the prospect of competing in a combat sport without standard protective equipment might deter many veteran fighters, McGregor addressed the physical risks associated with bare-knuckle fighting with characteristic humor and lighthearted detachment.
"Eh, teeth come and go! Just like a nose, it means nothing!" McGregor added, laughing off the potential for facial trauma. "You can get new teeth!"
The comments offer a clear window into McGregor’s mindset as he nears the twilight of his tenure with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Having achieved historic milestones, including simultaneously holding championship titles in two distinct weight classes—featherweight and lightweight—McGregor remains one of the most influential and financially successful figures in sports history.
As he prepares to step back into the Octagon for the final assignment of his current agreement, the combat sports world will undoubtedly watch closely to see how his storied UFC career concludes and how his anticipated transition into the world of bare-knuckle fighting ultimately unfolds.
