McGregor Returns at UFC 329 as Contract Clock and BKFC Stake Shape His Options
Declining an extension with two fights left on his deal positions McGregor to pursue bare‑knuckle or streamer opportunities after his UFC run.
Overview
- Conor McGregor is booked to headline UFC 329 against Max Holloway on July 11, 2026 at T‑Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and tickets sold out within minutes with very high face‑value prices.
- Reporting says McGregor has two fights remaining on his UFC contract and that he declined an extension, which could make him a free agent around 2027 if he completes those bouts.
- McGregor became a part‑owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in April 2024 and BKFC president David Feldman has publicly said McGregor told him he plans to fight bare‑knuckle and could appear there after his UFC fights.
- Netflix’s May 16 live MMA debut averaged 12.4 million global viewers and peaked at 17 million, creating a new streaming model for mega‑fights that could compete with one‑off paydays for elite fighters.
- If McGregor wins at UFC 329, analysts say high‑profile matchups with Islam Makhachev, Ilia Topuria, or Paddy Pimblett would become commercially viable and would shape whether he pursues a title run, a pay‑per‑view super‑fight, or a move into BKFC.