Odds stacked for Conor McGregor to choose glory competition over Netflix deal

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Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC is officially on the schedule, five years after a broken leg cut short his last fight against Dustin Poirier.

The Irishman will step back into the Octagon for a rematch with Max Holloway, headlining UFC 329 during International Fight Week. That bout marks the first of two fights left on his current contract, adding even more intrigue to what comes next.

Reports suggest he has just two bouts remaining on his current deal, and there’s already plenty of speculation about what could be next for the former dual-weight champion once he fulfils those obligations.

The main event also comes with an interesting detail – it is reportedly the first of two remaining fights on McGregor’s current deal. Naturally, there’s been no shortage of speculation over what might follow those final appearances.

McGregor hasn’t been shy about exploring options outside MMA, having previously stepped into boxing against Floyd Mayweather Jr. back in 2017.

Pundit Chael Sonnen recently stated that if negotiations are slow or difficult around a new deal, The Notorious One will not hesitate to leave behind Dana White’s promotion for other ventures.

Conor McGregor could leave in 2027, according to David Feldman

McGregor’s recent agreement with the UFC is said to only cover financial adjustments, without extending his contract beyond the two remaining fights.

Ariel Helwani reported that McGregor rejected a contract extension proposed by the promotion, potentially leaving him free to explore other options after fulfilling his current obligations.

With Netflix having recently entered the MMA market by featuring Ronda Rousey’s comeback against Gina Carano, some speculated that McGregor could look to headline a major event on the streaming platform.

However, speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, BKFC president David Feldman expressed confidence that McGregor would instead choose to fight under the BKFC banner, where he already holds an ownership stake.

“He could be (free in 2027),” Feldman said. “Look, I want him to do what’s best for him, for his career and what he wants to do.

“I think what he would want to do is help skyrocket a company that he’s involved in. We have talked about that in the past, and he said, ‘I’m definitely going to be doing this, I’m definitely fighting bare knuckle.’

“I would not be surprised if, after his second (UFC) fight, his third fight then would be in BKFC. I would not be surprised at all,” added Feldman.

Since becoming a part-owner of BKFC in 2024, McGregor has been actively involved in promoting the organisation and has often spoken about his intentions to compete there one day. Whether or not he follows through remains unclear just yet, though now being out of contract soon might speed up when it happens.