Conor McGregor’s potential move to bare knuckle boxing has taken another step forward, with BKFC president David Feldman now predicting that the former UFC champion could make his promotional debut within the next 15 months or so. Feldman’s comments come as BKFC continues discussions around bringing a major event to Dublin’s Croke Park, a venue that has already hosted some of Ireland’s biggest combat sports occasions. McGregor is also a part owner of BKFC, adding another layer to the possibility of him eventually competing for the promotion.
- Feldman expects McGregor to fight for BKFC
- Conor McGregor still has one UFC fight remaining
- McGregor has already shown interest in bare knuckle
- Croke Park could provide the perfect setting
- Why BKFC sees McGregor as a major attraction
- The next UFC fight remains the key
- McGregor’s potential BKFC chapter is taking shape
However, McGregor still has one fight remaining on his UFC contract before he can make the move.
Feldman expects McGregor to fight for BKFC
Speaking about Conor McGregor’s future, Feldman said he expects the Irish star to eventually compete inside the BKFC ring.
The BKFC boss has been increasingly open about the possibility in recent months. In an August interview, Feldman went as far as saying he would “bet my house” on McGregor fighting for BKFC after his next UFC bout.
Feldman’s latest prediction puts a rough timeframe on the potential debut. The BKFC president believes McGregor could enter the promotion within approximately 15 months, although no official fight has been announced and the timeline depends on McGregor completing his UFC obligations and recovering from his recent knee injury.
That distinction is important. The 15 month prediction comes from Feldman, rather than an officially confirmed BKFC schedule.
Conor McGregor still has one UFC fight remaining
Before McGregor can compete under BKFC rules, he is expected to complete the final fight on his current UFC contract. McGregor returned to the UFC in July 2026 after a five year absence, facing Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.
The comeback ended almost immediately after McGregor injured his right knee during the opening sequence. Holloway was awarded a first round TKO victory after the referee stopped the contest at 1:09. McGregor subsequently confirmed that he had suffered ACL and meniscus damage and later underwent surgery.
The injury means his next UFC appearance remains dependent on his recovery. McGregor has nevertheless indicated that he intends to return. His next UFC fight has been widely reported as the final bout remaining on his current agreement, after which his options outside the promotion could open up.
McGregor has already shown interest in bare knuckle
The possibility of Conor McGregor fighting for BKFC is not simply coming from Feldman. McGregor became a part owner of BKFC in April 2024 through McGregor Sports and Entertainment. Since then, the Irishman has remained closely connected to the promotion while continuing his UFC career.
He also recently appeared to signal his interest in competing in bare knuckle.During BKFC 93, McGregor posted an Instagram Story praising the promotion and saying he was looking forward to competing in bare knuckle once his UFC obligations were completed. The post was later deleted, but screenshots of the message circulated online.
That makes Feldman’s latest comments particularly notable because the promoter’s prediction is consistent with statements coming from McGregor himself. Still, McGregor has not officially been booked for a BKFC fight.
Croke Park could provide the perfect setting
The biggest question is where McGregor’s potential BKFC debut would take place. Feldman has previously expressed interest in bringing McGregor to Dublin’s Croke Park, a venue capable of hosting more than 80,000 spectators.
Following Katie Taylor’s recent event at the stadium, Feldman told Mirror Fighting that he would love to stage McGregor’s first BKFC fight at Croke Park in front of approximately 83,000 people.
The idea has obvious commercial appeal. Taylor’s event demonstrated the scale of interest surrounding major combat sports events at Croke Park, while McGregor remains one of Ireland’s most recognizable combat sports figures.
For BKFC, combining McGregor’s first bare knuckle appearance with a massive stadium event in his home country would create a significant occasion for the promotion. However, the venue remains a proposal rather than a confirmed location for McGregor’s debut.
Why BKFC sees McGregor as a major attraction
Feldman has repeatedly explained why crossover stars are important to BKFC’s growth. In an August interview, he said established names help introduce new audiences to bare knuckle boxing because their existing fan bases generate media attention and ticket demand.
Conor McGregor would represent the biggest crossover opportunity available to the promotion. He has competed at the highest level of MMA, boxed professionally against Floyd Mayweather and now has an ownership connection to BKFC. His experience with striking based combat sports also gives the promotion a straightforward narrative for his transition into bare knuckle competition.
Feldman has also said he believes McGregor’s style could translate effectively. Speaking to The Ring, Feldman pointed to McGregor’s patience and ability to select his shots as qualities that could work particularly well under bare knuckle rules. He also described a potential McGregor fight as a way to create a major event while increasing the value of McGregor’s ownership stake in the company.
The next UFC fight remains the key
Despite the growing conversation, there is still an important step before McGregor can make the switch.
He must first complete his remaining UFC obligation. The timing of that fight will therefore have a direct impact on any potential BKFC debut. His recovery from the knee injury is another major factor, and there is currently no officially announced date for his next UFC appearance.
That means the 15 month timeframe mentioned by Feldman should be viewed as a prediction rather than a confirmed schedule. BKFC’s official website currently lists its upcoming events without a McGregor fight announcement.
McGregor’s potential BKFC chapter is taking shape
The possibility of Conor McGregor fighting bare knuckle has existed since he became involved with BKFC, but recent developments have made the scenario more concrete.
McGregor has one UFC fight remaining, has publicly expressed interest in bare knuckle competition and owns a stake in the company. Feldman is now putting a rough timeframe on the potential debut, while also discussing the possibility of bringing the event to Croke Park.
For now, though, the fight remains unbooked. The immediate priority for McGregor is recovering from his knee injury and completing his UFC contract. After that, BKFC appears to be one of the clearest options on the table, with Feldman publicly expecting the Irish star to eventually enter the promotion.
If that happens at Croke Park, it would give BKFC the opportunity to stage one of the most significant events in its history on McGregor’s home soil.
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