Conor McGregor has never been known to sit quietly on the sidelines, and BKFC 70 was no exception. The event at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, was already a star-studded occasion, with Amanda Nunes, Andrei Arlovski, Rashad Evans, and even Shaquille O’Neal in attendance. But leave it to ‘The Notorious’ to steal the show. Not only did he do his best to hype up the occasion, but he also had an amusing encounter with the NBA icon himself, leaving fans scratching their heads. So, what did he do?

The former UFC double champion approached Shaq, who was sitting comfortably ringside, and handed him a BKFC belt. The 7’1″ NBA Hall of Famer held it for a brief period, likely wondering what was going on, until McGregor calmly returned it and walked away after a little interaction. There’s no explanation or theatrics—just a brief, random belt handoff. The scene was no less than a classic example of Conor McGregor’s trademark showmanship, one that often leaves people with more questions than answers. But as long as it is the ever-so-entertaining Irishman, who would mind such actions anyway?

It is worth noting that McGregor was not there solely for the spectacle. When it came to speaking about BKFC’s booming success, the Irishman’s message was loud and clear. ‘The Notorious’ broke into song and said, “I’ve been going up on a Thursday. I got the girl in…” before realizing the event was scheduled on Tuesday. But that definitely did not deter him, though, as he said, “We got a big… We got a big setup coming up. We’ve got an after-party. We’ll play that. We’ll for sure play that in the after-party.” Well, if nothing else, that was typical Conor McGregor—half showman, part hype man, and always unpredictable.

After all, Conor McGregor has been working to develop the sport since he became a co-owner of BKFC with David Feldman. From bringing record crowds in Spain last year to assisting BKFC in shattering expectations at KnuckleMania V, he has played a key role in its rise. And now that BKFC is booming in its hometown of Hollywood, Florida, it’s apparent that the Irishman sees bare-knuckle fighting as a movement rather than just another promotion. In fact, according to him, his promotion might even be leading the charge when it comes to MMA.

Conor McGregor drops massive claim post-BKFC 70 success

For McGregor, BKFC is more than simply another fight promotion; it represents the future of combat sports. His attendance at BKFC 70 was more than just promoting the event or having bizarre moments with celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal. It was about sending a message—a message that bare-knuckle combat isn’t only here to stay; it’s taking over. And he is not the only one who believes it. Shaq became an investor in the sport in 2021, drawn to its raw appeal.

BKFC’s David Feldman acknowledged the power of the collaboration, stating, “Who doesn’t know Shaq? And now he’s going to be part of this company… It’s going to make a lot more people want to be part of the company.” Conor McGregor, however, went a step further. In his opinion, BKFC is not only growing but also leading the way in combat sports as a whole.

After the event, he didn’t mince words: “There’s no other fight promotion doing anything around the game like Bare-Knuckle. Nothing. We are leading the way, leading the charge… You know, they say it’s as real as it gets. No, no, baby. This is as intense as it gets.” It wasn’t simply confidence; it was a declaration. And, given the Irishman’s promotional power, the statement surely carries weight.

It’s difficult to disagree given BKFC’s recent track record. The record-breaking KnuckleMania V earlier this year drew a gigantic crowd, and now BKFC 70 has one of its largest celebrity audiences yet. Whether McGregor is simply selling a product or actually believes that bare-knuckle fighting is the future, one thing is certain: wherever he goes, the world watches. And for now, all eyes are focused on BKFC. But what do you think? Will the Conor McGregor-led promotion become the biggest rival to the UFC anytime soon? Let us know in the comments.