Conor McGregor considers himself ‘player-manager’ in BKFC with ‘2 fights left’ on UFC contract

Conor McGregor says he can see himself competing in a BKFC ring, but he’d obviously have to finish his contract with the UFC.

McGregor was revealed as a co-owner of BKFC earlier in the year, and hosted a press conference for the promotion in Spain on Thursday. “The Notorious” delivered an introduction to the BKFC fans about his excitement to be a part of the team — but then also saying he has his sights set on possibly competing in the future.

“For me, I have a little business left with the [UFC], two fights left on my contract, but for sure, we’ve got three lightweights up here on the dais, and I have my eye on all of this,” McGregor said at Thursday’s BKFC press conference. “I’m not up here just as an owner, player-manager I’ll title myself on this one.”

McGregor is expected to face Michael Chandler in his return to UFC action for the first time in over three years, but the bout has yet to be officially scheduled following McGregor’s withdrawal from their original booking for UFC 303.

The former two-division UFC champ says attending a BKFC event live is what got to him to see the growth potential in the sport and promotion. McGregor also sees potential dollar signs for MMA fighters who want to make the jump over to bare-knuckle fighting, citing Mike Perry’s incredible post-UFC rise as he prepares to face Jake Paul in a boxing match this Saturday.

“Look at what has happened to Michael Perry, one of our big stars here, the King of Violence he titles himself,” McGregor said. “He’s had such a rise in the sport, now he’s up against a little dweeb of a thing in a fight this weekend that we’re all rooting for him. But this is the real deal. No one in this combat sports space can speak one [bad word] about [BKFC], and that for me is money in the bank.”