Conor McGregor says he has one UFC fight left, and bare-knuckle is where he wants to go next
Conor McGregor has one fight left on his UFC contract, and he is already talking about what comes after. In a since-deleted Instagram story posted around BKFC 93, the Irishman praised Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the promotion he co-owns, and said he can’t wait to do it himself. Two months after a knee injury ended his UFC 329 fight with Max Holloway in 69 seconds, the end of his UFC era has a countdown.
- Fight Hub
- 14 September 2026
Key takeaways
- Conor McGregor (22-7) wrote on Instagram that he has "one more to go" before he is free of his UFC contract, then deleted the story.
- His last fight, against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 10 in Las Vegas, ended after 69 seconds when he tore knee ligaments; he faces a long recovery.
- McGregor has been a part-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship since 2024 and says he wants to fight there once his UFC deal is done.
What Conor McGregor said
A story that did not stay up
The message appeared on McGregor’s Instagram stories around BKFC 93 and was quickly removed, but not before it was captured and widely reported. “Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is unstoppable at the moment. What a few months we’ve had. God bless true fighting,” he wrote. “I can’t wait to do it, one more to go. One more to go and the Mac Daddy is free.”
The phrase that matters is “one more to go”. McGregor had said before UFC 329 that two fights remained on his deal. With the Holloway fight counted, the UFC now has one more McGregor fight under contract.
Why “free” matters
McGregor has spent years in contract discussions with the UFC. Calling the end of the deal freedom tells you how he sees the next step: not a renegotiation, but a door he wants to walk through.
Where McGregor stands physically
UFC 329 lasted 69 seconds
His return against Max Holloway at UFC 329, on July 10 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was supposed to be the big comeback. It ended after 69 seconds. McGregor hurt his knee with an explosive jumping kick, Holloway alerted the referee, and the fight was stopped. Reports described torn ligaments and a recovery of around a year.
A last fight with no date
That timeline makes the last UFC fight a long way off. McGregor has competed only a handful of times in the past five years, slowed by injuries and contract issues, and the next appearance depends first on the knee. Nothing is booked, and no opponent has been named.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is unstoppable at the moment. What a few months we've had. God bless true fighting. I can't wait to do it, one more to go. One more to go and the Mac Daddy is free.
— Conor McGregor, on Instagram
Why BKFC is the obvious next step
An owner who wants to fight
McGregor became a part-owner of BKFC in 2024 and has been visible at its biggest events. He has called bare-knuckle “true fighting”, and his story leaves little doubt that he sees himself inside the ring once the UFC deal ends.
What it means for the UFC
For the UFC, the last McGregor fight becomes a scarce asset: one more event built around the biggest draw in the sport’s history, with no guarantee of anything after. For McGregor, it is the final step before he can choose his own stage, and the promotion he part-owns is already waiting.
Follow McGregor’s next move with real numbers
Conor McGregor’s full record, his UFC 329 result and the lightweight rankings are in the FightHub app, updated as his next fight takes shape. Download it to follow the last chapter of his UFC run.
Read next
