Conor McGregor’s BKFC role and bare-knuckle plans clarified amid UFC comeback
Conor McGregor is still expected to take off the gloves for his bare-knuckle fighting debut once his UFC contract expires.
That’s according to founder and president of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Dave Feldman, who runs the league alongside co-owner McGregor.
UFC CEO Dana White revealed earlier this month that McGregor would make his promotional return against Max Holloway on July 11.
McGregor hasn’t fought since July 2021 and has spent most of his public appearances in the fight game actively promoting BKFC events, appearing and leading several press conferences.
The 37-year-old has previously admitted he will ‘100 per cent’ fight bare-knuckle in the future, but his return to the UFC could affect those plans.
Not in the eyes of Feldman, however, who remains confident McGregor’s BKFC debut will materialise one day.
McGregor’s BKFC debut latest
“I do,” Feldman told talkSPORT.com when asked if he believes McGregor’s sentiment.
“I just think that he has two fights left on his contract. He did tell me that they treated him very fairly in this fight, so that’s a good thing for him.
“But it just makes sense because not only will he get paid very, very good money, he’ll increase the value of the company, which he owns a significant percentage of, and it’s just a win-win for the whole organisation.”
Feldman was speaking ahead of his latest show in the UK this weekend.
BKFC 90 takes place in Birmingham on Saturday night, with the biggest draw in former UFC title challenger Darren Till making his bare-knuckle debut against Aaron Chalmers.
The press conference for the fights went down on Thursday, when Feldman revealed knockout bonuses had been introduced for each fight, per a request from McGregor earlier in the day.
McGregor has made plenty of off-the-cuff decisions during his BKFC reign, doubling purses at a press conference for an event in Spain and seemingly firing one of the promotion’s biggest stars Mike Perry multiple times.
So how does Feldman keep up with McGregor’s unhinged demands?
Feldman: McGregor is here to make noise
“It doesn’t matter what he says. People listen, right?” the BKFC boss explained.
“They react to it. And that’s why he’s here. He’s not on here to be a silent partner to take a backseat.
“He’s on here to make noise, to create controversy, to get people talking.
“That’s what he’s with us for and he does a hell of a job at that.”
Speaking on McGregor’s role within the company while preparing for his UFC return, Feldman concluded: “He’s still gonna do his thing.
“Look, this is an important fight for him. He hasn’t been in the cage for five years.
“For him, this is important and I don’t want to take that away from him.
“I got this right now, but after this fight, I expect him to jump back in and do all the stuff that he did before we had a great talk about it.
“He said, ‘As soon as this fight is over, I’m back in! I’m doing this. I really need to focus on this.’
“I said, ‘Of course you do,’ because it’s not only good for Conor. It’s good for us if he comes out with a sensational knockout or something like that.
“It’s great for everybody. I want him to be the best Conor he can be and he’s showing that every day in the gym and every day with his family life right now.
“So hopefully he continues that and I’m sure we’re gonna get some comments from him tomorrow when Darren Till‘s fighting.
While Feldman wasn’t able to confirm the exact number for bonuses at BKFC 90, as it will be based on each fighter’s purse, he did suggest his athletes will have a chance at doubling their earnings.
Feldman, who was a professional boxer himself in the 90s, says he understands what fighters go through and takes pride in knowing he will always ‘make sure they’re taken care of.’
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