Conor McGregor has been touting a comeback ever since suffering a broken leg during his fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021 but it seems like the former two-division champion is more committed to his return than ever before with the prospect of competing on the upcoming UFC White House card in 2026.
With a full focus on training and preparation, especially after dropping out of the upcoming presidential race in Ireland, McGregor has set almost everything else aside to prepare for his first fight in five years. Even UFC CEO Dana White has said that McGregor has been talking to him “non-stop” about making his return at that event and he has faith that if the Irish superstar books the fight that he’ll absolutely show up.
The same goes for BKFC president David Feldman, who has come to count McGregor as a friend and business partner after he became a part-owner in the bare-knuckle fighting promotion.
“I think that he’s very serious about what he’s doing with his comeback fight,” Feldman told MMA Fighting about McGregor’s return to action. “He’s going to do that fight. Unless something really crazy off the wall happens.”
Of course, Feldman has spent the majority of his time with McGregor since he got involved in BKFC’s business but he’s definitely seen a new drive in him lately with the chance to compete on a historic card like the one happening at the White House in 2026.
That carrot being dangled out in front of him apparently has McGregor more motivated than ever before to get himself back into fight shape and make his long awaited return to the cage.
“This truly is the best Conor McGregor I’ve seen,” Feldman said. “Now I haven’t known him forever but I’ve known him for two years and this is the best Conor I’ve ever seen. Focused. Training. We’ve had some conversations me and Conor and I just said, you’re the biggest legend that ever hit the fight game almost, just let’s get back in there and training.
“He’s doing everything that I think a fighter should do at this point. He’s got a long time to go before that July 4 card next year. If he can maintain his focus, which I have no reason to believe he won’t and maintain his focus on training and everything, he’s got shot of being the old Conor McGregor.”
With two fights left on his current deal with UFC, McGregor has also spoken often about eventually taking off his gloves and actually competing in a bare-knuckle fight in BKFC.
As much as it might all seem like hype to draw attention to a promotion where he has a financial interest, Feldman believes McGregor is serious about future aspirations to appear in the BKFC ring.
But for now the talk is just talk and Feldman expects McGregor’s future in combat sports — whether that’s the UFC or BKFC — to be determined by how he does in his next fight.
“I think it depends on the outcome of the White House card,” Feldman said. “If he wins the White House card, which I have every reason to believe no matter who he fight, he’s going to win. Because they’re going to match him against someone that is going to be an even fight for him. They’re not going to match him against some young stud that maybe shouldn’t be matched against at this stage of his career. But they’re going to match him right, I know they are because it would make sense for the promotion.
“If he wins, if he looks good in that fight, he’s going to fight another fight. If that happens, then I would bet 100 percent he’ll fight for BKFC. Why wouldn’t he? What would he do for the evaluation of the company if he fights for BKFC? He’ll double or triple it and then he just doubled or tripled his interest in it and that’s way more than he’s going to get fighting anywhere else.”
The fact that McGregor has a vested interest in BKFC’s long term success is far different than just earning a paycheck competing in the UFC.
Feldman knows the kinds of numbers McGregor draws when he competes and the return on his investment by actually doing a bare-knuckle fight when he’s a co-owner of the promotion changes everything.
“I mean he’s going to get paid for it because we’re going to have investors come in for that fight and then he’ll get double or triple the evaluation for the company,” Feldman said. “It’s a no-brainer and a win-win for everybody.
“But he has business to take care of first and I do have to say honestly again, super, super focused. The most focused I’ve ever seen.”