How strict is the UFC really when it comes to fighters’ extracurricular activities? Not at all, if you ask former two-division champion Conor McGregor, who made a recent appearance at BKFC 41. In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, McGregor discussed his relationship with the promotion and potential for fighting bareknuckle in the future.
When Helwani asked McGregor if the UFC was “mad” about his appearance at a rival promotion, “The Notorious” had this to say. “I don’t know.
Is Conor McGregor Leaving the UFC? Superstar Opens Up About Possible BKFC Future
No one said anything. The UFC is where it’s at, no matter what. There isn’t nothing above the UFC, and there isn’t nothing that ever will be, and that’s the truth. So I’m sure they had no problem.”
Of course, despite a two-year layoff, McGregor remains under contract with the UFC. Despite this, the Irishman continues to entertain the idea of returning to the boxing ring.
“I would do it. Yes I would do it, and I’d be happy to do it. It’s hard to get a boring fight in it, and it’s actually almost impossible for a boring fight to happen in it, and I’ll tell you why – no other discipline or sport can say that there’s a zero percent chance of having a boring fight.
Boxing can be a snoozefest, MMA can be a snoozefest. There’s no chance of a boring fight in bare-knuckle because even if it is just a back-and-forth jab match, even a jab splits the skin.
So from the split skin causes panic in the ring, and the crowd rises, and there’s zero chance of a boring fight. So it’s interesting. I’d be up for it, for sure. Why not?”
At the event, former McGregor opponents Eddie Alvarez and Chad Mendes clashed, with McGregor singing the praises of both men. “I fought both lads, and when you’ve fought someone, you’ve got respect after a knock.
You were asking who I was coaching. I was actually helping them both. Chad, I knew what was going to happen. I thought Chad, way more power, way more explosive.
I thought Eddie, a little bit tougher. … Eddie’s tough motherf*****, too, and he also goes into this mode. I’ve seen him where he doesn’t know what’s happening. You hit him, and he goes into, like, zombie mode or robo mode, kind of like Nate [Diaz], but in a different way.
So I felt that Mendes was going to hurt him, and drop him, but Eddie, he’s going to get back, he’s going to get back to his feet, and then he’s going to that mode and start getting the better of him and break him down, and that’s exactly what happened. So I was kind of cornering, but in my head, I was saying, ‘I hope … they take them out safe.’ I enjoyed it.”
