David Feldman Sets a Clear Bar for Conor McGregor’s Possible BKFC Debut

Conor McGregor’s route from the UFC to bare-knuckle boxing may depend less on the result of his next bout than on how he performs in it. BKFC founder and president David Feldman says McGregor needs to look good in his final UFC appearance to build excitement for a debut with the promotion.

That leaves McGregor with a specific test as he considers his next chapter. He has talked about ending his UFC run and moving into bare-knuckle competition, but Feldman’s comments make clear that his name alone won’t settle the question. The performance has to give fans a reason to anticipate the switch.

Performance matters more than the result

“Obviously he has to look good in this (next UFC) fight,” Feldman told talkSPORT. He said a repeat of the circumstances around McGregor’s most recent bout could dampen interest, while a strong showing would help make a BKFC appearance compelling whether McGregor wins or loses.

“If something crazy happened, like what happened in his last fight, then I don’t think a lot of people would be excited,” Feldman said. “But if he comes out there and has a good fight, a very good fight, win or lose doesn’t matter, everybody’s going to be excited about Conor McGregor taking his gloves off.”

That distinction is central to Feldman’s view. He isn’t setting a victory over a particular opponent as the condition. He is looking for a performance that can restore momentum after McGregor’s injury loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329, which ended quickly and marked the penultimate bout on McGregor’s current UFC contract.

McGregor’s injury loss against Max Holloway came this past July. He is now focused on recovering from the knee injury that cut short his return at International Fight Week. The next bout, if it goes ahead as planned, will be his chance to show what he can still bring to a major event before deciding where to compete next.

A possible final UFC bout in 2027

McGregor has described International Fight Week in 2027 as his “last dance” in the UFC, which would complete his current contract if no extension is agreed. The recent loss to Holloway was the second-to-last bout on that deal. Although McGregor had expressed interest in re-signing, there has reportedly been no effort so far to extend the agreement.

His stated plan is to leave the Octagon and pursue bare-knuckle boxing, with BKFC the obvious destination: McGregor is a part-owner of the promotion. But the timing and even the prospect of that move remain tied to what happens in his next UFC outing. The promotion’s interest, as Feldman describes it, depends on McGregor showing enough in that fight to make the crossover feel like a live sporting attraction.

Feldman also spoke to Bloody Elbow after McGregor’s latest comments about returning. He doesn’t take the Irishman’s talk about one last UFC appearance as proof that McGregor intends to retire from combat sports. McGregor had vowed to break records and outperform Canelo Alvarez’s recent match, suggesting he wants another chance to demonstrate the scale of an event built around him.

“I think that’s a big possibility (fighting in BKFC),” Feldman said. “Look, Conor says different things a lot. His feelings change.” He speculated that seeing the numbers associated with Canelo’s match may have encouraged McGregor to make another push of his own. Feldman added that the demands and physical toll of fighting can’t be ignored, while making clear he doesn’t expect the next UFC bout to be McGregor’s last appearance in combat sports.

The next performance will shape the pitch

For now, the route is straightforward: McGregor must recover from the knee injury, then work with the UFC to identify an opponent for the planned final bout, assuming his contract isn’t extended. That makes his comeback performance more than a closing chapter in his UFC career. It may also determine how much energy surrounds the next one.

Feldman’s standard leaves room for McGregor to lose and still make a successful case for the crossover, provided the contest is strong. A convincing return would give BKFC a clearer sporting hook for its part-owner’s debut. If the fight is cut short or fails to show McGregor at his best, the appetite Feldman is counting on could be harder to sustain. The decisive question is not simply whether McGregor appears again, but what his final UFC performance gives fans to anticipate afterward.

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