Conor McGregor BKFC: Everything About His Ownership and Impact
When Conor McGregor announced his ownership stake in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in April 2024, the combat sports world paid attention. The former UFC dual-weight champion -- arguably the biggest name in MMA history -- was putting his money and his brand behind bare knuckle boxing. What followed has been a series of moves that reshaped BKFC from a growing niche promotion into a legitimate mainstream combat sports property.
This is the full story of McGregor's BKFC involvement: the deal, the announcements, the fighter equity program, and what it all means for the future of bare knuckle fighting.
The Ownership Announcement: KnuckleMania IV (April 2024)
On April 27, 2024, at KnuckleMania IV, BKFC founder and president David Feldman made the announcement that Conor McGregor and his company, McGregor Sports and Entertainment, had become part-owners of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
The announcement sent shockwaves through combat sports media. McGregor, still under contract with the UFC at the time, was diversifying his business portfolio into a promotion that had been steadily growing since its first sanctioned event in 2018.
McGregor's famous reaction -- "Baby, we did it" -- became an instant soundbite. But behind the showmanship was a calculated business move.
The Deal Structure
McGregor acquired a minority ownership stake in BKFC through McGregor Sports and Entertainment. Triller, which had previously invested in BKFC, retained its majority ownership position. The exact financial terms of the deal were not publicly disclosed, but reporting indicated that McGregor's investment was substantial enough to give him meaningful influence over the promotion's direction.
David Feldman remained as BKFC's founder and president, continuing to run day-to-day operations. McGregor's role was positioned as both investor and brand ambassador -- a combination that leveraged his unmatched ability to generate media attention.
Why McGregor Chose BKFC
McGregor's interest in bare knuckle fighting was not random. Several factors aligned to make BKFC an attractive investment.
Personal Connection to the Sport
McGregor grew up in Dublin, Ireland, a city with deep historical ties to bare knuckle fighting culture. Before becoming an MMA star, McGregor was a boxer, and the stripped-down nature of bare knuckle competition aligned with his fighting philosophy.
Business Opportunity
By 2024, BKFC was the clear market leader in bare knuckle boxing. The promotion had secured sanctioning in multiple U.S. states, signed distribution deals, and built a loyal fanbase. But it lacked the one thing that could push it into the mainstream: a globally recognizable face. McGregor provided exactly that.
Fighter Advocacy
McGregor has been vocal throughout his career about fighter pay and the power imbalance between promotions and athletes. His ownership of BKFC gave him a platform to address those concerns from the other side of the table -- a theme that would become central to the 2025 Champions Summit.
The 2025 Champions Summit: Game-Changing Announcements
On July 10, 2025, McGregor and Feldman hosted the inaugural BKFC Champions Summit at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. What was billed as a "state of the promotion" press conference turned into one of the most significant days in bare knuckle boxing history.
The Fighter Equity Program
The headline announcement was the BKFC Fighter Equity Program -- the first time a major combat sports promotion had offered ownership stakes to its athletes based on performance.
The program works on a tiered system:
- First title defense: The champion receives equity valued at $100,000
- Five title defenses: Equity increases proportionally
- Ten title defenses: The champion earns up to $3 million in equity
This means that current long-reigning champions like Dustin Pague (four super welterweight defenses) and Britain Hart (five women's strawweight defenses) have already accumulated significant ownership value.
McGregor's statement at the summit captured his motivation: "Do you understand how incredible that is, for our combatants to be rewarded in that way and truly, truly be on board with us? For me, I gave everything to the rise of a company and got nothing. Now, here we are. We give back to the fighters that bleed for us. Welcome to the owner's table. We are in this together."
The implicit reference to the UFC was unmistakable. McGregor -- who helped build the UFC into a multi-billion dollar brand while fighting for a fraction of the revenue he generated -- was offering BKFC fighters the deal he never got.
The $25 Million "World's Baddest Man" Tournament
The Champions Summit also unveiled a $25 million heavyweight tournament dubbed "World's Baddest Man." The tournament would feature BKFC's top heavyweights competing for the largest purse in bare knuckle boxing history.
This announcement signaled BKFC's willingness to compete with major promotions on purse size, at least at the top of the card. For a promotion that had been paying entry-level fighters in the $2,000-$9,000 range, the $25 million tournament was a statement of ambition.
Asian Expansion: Lethwei Acquisition
McGregor and Feldman announced that BKFC had acquired majority shares in a Lethwei promotion in Asia. Lethwei -- Burmese bare knuckle boxing -- is one of the oldest and most brutal striking arts in the world. The acquisition positioned BKFC to expand into Asian markets and potentially create cross-promotional events between bare knuckle boxing and Lethwei fighters.
Major Fighter Signings
The Champions Summit also revealed new signings that would reshape the BKFC championship picture. Former UFC stars Yoel Romero, Derek Brunson, Aspen Ladd, and Thiago Santos were all announced as new additions to the BKFC roster.
Additional Investors Join McGregor
McGregor's involvement attracted other investors to BKFC. In January 2025, Derik Fay of 3F Management invested in the promotion, joining McGregor as a co-owner. The addition of professional sports management expertise to BKFC's ownership group signaled that the promotion was building infrastructure for long-term growth, not just short-term hype.
McGregor's Ongoing Role
Since becoming a co-owner, McGregor has been actively involved in BKFC's promotion and direction. His social media posts about BKFC events generate millions of impressions. He has appeared at BKFC events, participated in press conferences, and used his platform to advocate for the sport.
McGregor has publicly stated that BKFC is a better option for former UFC fighters than rival MMA promotions, positioning bare knuckle boxing as a legitimate career path rather than a step down.
The Brand Effect
The "McGregor effect" on BKFC has been measurable. Media coverage of BKFC increased dramatically after the ownership announcement. Fighter signings accelerated. Event attendance grew. The promotion's social media following expanded.
McGregor brought something that money alone cannot buy: cultural relevance. His involvement gave casual fans a reason to pay attention to bare knuckle boxing, and it gave media outlets a hook for covering BKFC events.
How BKFC Ownership Is Structured
Understanding BKFC's ownership structure helps contextualize McGregor's role.
- David Feldman: Founder and president, responsible for day-to-day operations, matchmaking, and event production
- Triller: Majority owner, providing distribution infrastructure and financial backing
- Conor McGregor / McGregor Sports and Entertainment: Minority owner, brand ambassador, strategic advisor
- Derik Fay / 3F Management: Investor, sports management expertise
- Fighter equity holders: Champions and long-tenured fighters who have earned ownership stakes through the equity program
This distributed ownership model is unusual in combat sports, where promotions are typically controlled by a single owner or a small group of investors. The addition of fighter equity makes it even more unique.
Impact on Fighter Pay and Recruitment
McGregor's involvement has had a direct impact on BKFC's ability to attract high-profile fighters. The combination of increased media exposure, the fighter equity program, and competitive purses has made BKFC a viable destination for established combat sports athletes.
Notable UFC veterans who have fought in BKFC include Mike Perry (who went 4-0 in bare knuckle), John Dodson (who captured the BKFC flyweight title), Eddie Alvarez, Chad Mendes, Paige VanZant, Ben Rothwell, and Alessio Sakara.
The pay comparison between BKFC and UFC shows that while UFC top-end pay remains higher, BKFC's combination of purses plus equity can make it financially competitive for mid-tier fighters -- exactly the demographic most likely to cross over.
What Comes Next
McGregor's BKFC involvement is still in its early stages. Several developments are worth watching.
Potential McGregor Fight in BKFC
The question every fan asks: Will McGregor himself ever fight in BKFC? While there has been no official announcement, McGregor has not ruled it out. A McGregor bare knuckle fight would be the biggest event in the promotion's history and would generate pay-per-view numbers that could rival mid-tier UFC cards.
International Expansion
The Lethwei acquisition and the promotion's growing international event schedule suggest that BKFC is positioning itself as a global brand. McGregor's international name recognition is a critical asset for this expansion.
Continued Fighter Equity Growth
As more champions accumulate defenses, the fighter equity program will create a class of athlete-owners with a genuine financial stake in the promotion's success. This alignment of interests between fighters and management could become a model for other combat sports organizations.
Competition with Other Promotions
BKFC's growth under McGregor's co-ownership puts it in increasingly direct competition with the UFC for fighter talent, media attention, and fan dollars. The differences between the two promotions are significant, but the competitive dynamic is real and growing.
The Bottom Line
Conor McGregor's investment in BKFC is more than a celebrity endorsement. It represents a strategic bet on the future of bare knuckle fighting as a mainstream combat sport. The fighter equity program, the $25 million tournament, the Asian expansion, and the steady stream of high-profile signings all point to a promotion that is building for long-term viability.
For McGregor, BKFC is an opportunity to be on the ownership side of a growing combat sports brand -- the position he wished he had been in during the UFC's explosive growth years. For BKFC's fighters, McGregor's involvement has translated into better pay, more exposure, and the unprecedented opportunity to own a piece of the company they bleed for.
Whether you follow BKFC for the fights, the business, or both, the McGregor era is reshaping what bare knuckle boxing can be.