Conor McGregor is placing his full give attention to making ready for his return on the UFC White Home card in 2026 earlier than making another plans for the long run.
Forward of BKFC 82 on Saturday the place he’s serving because the promoter and co-owner of the corporate, the previous two-division UFC champion addressed his comeback with hopes that he’ll face Michael Chandler on the historic card deliberate for the White Home subsequent 12 months. Whereas McGregor has spoken typically about his want to finally cross over and compete in a bare-knuckle struggle, he made it clear that proper now he’s solely excited about his first struggle within the UFC in 5 years earlier than he may even ponder what comes subsequent.
“I’ve eight months and alter out to the White Home occasion. It’s a six-month operation,” McGregor informed MMA Preventing throughout a media roundtable. “I contemplate it a six-month operation to prepare for this bout. That’s my focus proper now. I’m simply wanting to climb the steps into being prepared for my return. There’s quite a bit at stake, and I’m very excited on the alternative.
“I used to be proper there with my final one. I used to be in unbelievable situation. Extremely well-prepared. Only a slight lapse in focus led to an damage. I want to right that and present what I’m about. I’m wanting to get again, and we’ll see what the long run holds after that.”
McGregor suffered a damaged toe in coaching simply weeks out from his beforehand scheduled bout in opposition to Chandler that scrapped his return to motion.
Since then, the Irish celebrity has largely been engaged on companies outdoors the cage, which included his funding in BKFC.
Along with his final look within the UFC occurring in 2021 when he suffered a horrific damaged leg throughout his Dustin Poirier trilogy, McGregor admits that he’s going to need to put all of his consideration on coaching and preparation to make sure he’s prepared for his comeback.
“There shall be a interval of isolation for certain the place the cellphone is not going to be answered,” McGregor stated. “All my folks concerned with me perceive it’s coming. As I stated, it’s a six-month operation. I’m below no phantasm of what lies forward in my preparation efforts. The cellphone shall be switched off, and the work shall be executed.”
It’s well-documented that McGregor has two fights left on his present UFC contract, which is why there’s been a lot hypothesis about finally leaving in free company to compete for BKFC.
However what about combating for BKFC whereas nonetheless below contract with UFC?
McGregor admits he hasn’t had that dialog but, however the UFC did give him permission as soon as upon a time for a boxing match in opposition to Floyd Mayweather so something appears doable.
“I’ve not broached it,” McGregor stated. “There was just a few presents for some exhibition boxing bouts that weren’t turned away, that had been engaged in, and so they didn’t come to be. So that they weren’t absolutely engaged however the bare-knuckle dialog hasn’t actually been broached.”
One factor that’s going to be dramatically totally different for McGregor in his deliberate UFC return shouldn’t be getting the same old monetary windfall hooked up to his fights occurring on pay-per-view.
Beginning in 2026, the UFC strikes to Paramount in a $7.7 billion cope with all occasions — together with the high-profile numbered playing cards — being streamed at no additional price for subscribers to Paramount+ with choose exhibits additionally airing on CBS.
As probably the most prolific pay-per-view star in UFC historical past, McGregor’s checking account positively reaped the advantages of these occasions so he’s charting new territory with the upcoming adjustments to the printed deal.
“The complete panorama of the UFC mannequin, the pay-per-view mannequin is now full,” McGregor stated. “So I have to enter into one thing new and it’s coming is what I’m being informed. So I’m excited to see how that appears and let’s see what comes.”
Whereas conserving his eyes on the prize with regards to competing on the UFC White Home card, McGregor nonetheless isn’t straying too removed from his ardour for bare-knuckle fights. He’s conserving an in depth eye on the BKFC 82 predominant occasion this weekend with each Mike Perry and Jeremy Stephens beforehand asking for the possibility to face him.
McGregor guarantees he’s prepared for the problem and maybe his BKFC debut may come in opposition to considered one of them.
“[Bare knuckle] fits my fists. It fits my wrists. It fits me higher,” McGregor stated. “My accuracy is remaining and with the larger gloves, it’s not as interesting to me. I fancy bare-knuckle vastly.
“I’ll be in there watching as a competitor in addition to the promoter in addition to an proprietor. I’ll be there watching as a competitor. I’ll be sizing up the 2 gents. It’s a cracking contest. Michael Perry constructed up his identify to a really excessive stage in bare-knuckle and now he returns and Jeremy Stephens is completely fearless. Former 145-pounder, Mike Perry’s a former 170-pounder, and also you don’t write off a person like that together with his again in opposition to the wall and no worry. We’re in for a completely cracking contest.”
