Conor McGregor wants to fight forgotten MMA star in new sport in major career change after UFC contract runs out
CONOR MCGREGOR has revealed who he wants to fight in the bare-knuckle boxing ring.
The UFC superstar became a part-owner of the fast-rising bare-knuckle promotion Bareknuckle Fighting Championship earlier this year, much to the surprise of many.
And the former two-division champion has hinted that he one day wants to test himself in the gruesome world of bare-knuckle fighting.
McGregor, 36, wouldn’t be short of opponents willing to welcome him to the bloody and brutal sport.
Although he seemingly already has one in mind – former UFC lightweight and BKFC newbie Jeremy Stephens.
In an Instagram post promoting BKFC’s latest event, he wrote: “BARE KNUCKLE WARRIORS LETS GO!
“We are live this Friday from Salt Lake City, Utah.
“In our co-main event also we have ‘Who the f**k is that guy” facing off again against Bobby Taylor.
“Me and ‘Who the f**k’ is an exciting bare-knuckle fight down the line 100%!
“Good luck to all our combatants! EXCITED! @bareknucklefc FIGHT WEEK! Swipe for the card and full schedule! @bareknucklefc.”
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Inside McGregor's Notorious lifestyle
With more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor's rise has been an enthralling watch.
Going from UFC icon to entrepreneur and Hollywood star, the Irishman has transcended the sport he helped bring to the masses.
He has four children with fiancee Dee Devlin and the family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.
McGregor has not fought in UFC since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
That has not stopped him amassing a net worth of over £150m thanks to his Proper No Twelve whiskey and fashion line.
And he is due to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 in an eagerly-awaited headline clash with Michael Chandler.
McGregor also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Amazon Prime remake of classic movie Road House, although he is dreading his mum seeing one X-rated scene.
Notorious turned up to the premiere in a £60,000 suit that was outdone by his £460k watch.
The only thing sharper than his fashion sense is his tongue and the Dubliner has several bitter spats under his belt, including with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That row led to one of his biggest controversies in 2018 as he travelled 3,000 miles to confront Khabib in a vicious attack on his bus.
He pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in a pub in 2018 and had his £150k Bentley seized by police for driving offences four years later.
Joe Rogan lashed out at McGregor in a four-letter outburst and the Irishman has also fired shots at Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather also has McGregor on his enemy list after the pair clashed in a cross-sport bout in 2017.
Read all of our latest Conor McGregor stories.
Stephens was infamously on the receiving end of a viral trolling from McGregor at the UFC 205 pre-fight press conference in September 2016.
After hearing Stephens try his best to bag a featherweight showdown with him, McGregor hilariously replied: “Who the f**k is that guy?”
The saying, which is widely regarded as one of McGregor’s best press conference lines, has followed Stephens ever since.
And Stephens believes it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that a bare-knuckle straightener between himself and The Notorious comes to fruition.
When asked about potentially fighting the Irishman, he said: “Ya never know. Stay tuned.”
McGregor, 35, is currently under contract with the UFC so a fight in BKFC is out of the question unless the promotion gives him their blessing – which is incredibly unlikely.
The former two-division champion has two fights left on his current deal with MMA‘s top organisation and talks over a new deal took place before the cancellation of his clash with Michael Chandler.
But he recently suggested that negotiations have temporarily been shelved in an exclusive interview with SunSport.
“You know, the fight never happened,” he said. “So it’s just about getting the fight on.”