Conor McGregor is celebrating one of the most remarkable nights in bare-knuckle boxing history. As a co-owner of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), he watched from home as the promotion hosted a landmark event on Saturday night.
Over 18,000 fans packed the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to witness BKFC Knucklemania VI. The event featured a record crowd who saw Andrei Arlovski make history by becoming a dual-sport world champion, securing a gritty, blood-soaked victory against Ben Rothwell in the main event.
Conor McGregor lauds ‘hero’ Andrei Arlovski
Following his fight, Andrei Arlovski delivered an inspiring message to those battling cancer, reflecting on his own three triumphs over the disease. The former UFC heavyweight champion, who reclaimed a world title at 47, urged cancer patients to “never give up” and emphasized that “life is beautiful.”
McGregor, thrilled by Arlovski’s achievement, honored him on Instagram Stories, calling him a hero. “That’s why the Belarusian flag is on the UFC belt,” McGregor remarked. “I fought cancer three times and am now the reigning BKFC heavyweight champion.”
Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon
McGregor has not competed since July 2021 when he suffered a leg injury during his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. At 37, he aims to make his comeback at the UFC event slated for June at the White House.
However, before returning, McGregor needs to finalize a new deal with the UFC. His current contract was effectively nullified after the UFC signed a groundbreaking $7.7 billion broadcast agreement with Paramount, which ended the traditional pay-per-view (PPV) model that had previously defined fighter compensation.
“I’ll be entering negotiations with the UFC in February,” McGregor said recently. “The company’s profits have quadrupled under the new Paramount deal. Since my contract was based on PPV sales, which no longer exist, it’s essentially void. I’m the best PPV fighter ever, and now the system has changed, so I’m signing a new contract.”
Fan Take: This is a pivotal moment for combat sports fans because McGregor’s return could reignite the UFC’s mainstream excitement, especially as the sport adapts to new media landscapes. Additionally, the rise of BKFC with legendary figures like Arlovski shows the growing appeal and legitimacy of bare-knuckle boxing as an alternative fighting sport.
