Conor McGregor has seen brighter days. Once the golden boy of UFC, now finds himself in turbulent waters after recent legal troubles. A civil judgment against the fighter for behavioral misconduct and assault left him $260,000 lighter in the pocket. Moreover, major partners like Proximo Spirits and IO Interactive dropped him from their marketing campaigns. This comes as his UFC return has been delayed putting him in a tough spot. 

As McGregor grapples with the turmoil in his personal and professional life, he has been offered the chance to get back into the ring by the person he reportedly fired on social in July from BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships). Yes, we are talking about ‘The King of Violence,’ Mike Perry.

On Monday, Mike Perry, Mac Mally, and Ice Bagz were joined by UFC welterweight, Vicente Luque on the Overdogs Podcast. During the conversation, Bagz proposed the idea of Perry vs McGregor in a Dirty Boxing Rules contest and asked Luque about his thoughts.

The UFC fighter replied, “I think Conor is a really really good counter striker. But it’s different, even like the BKFC rules when I saw them and then I saw how the fighting is I’m like Mike can go through this because he knows how to create the range where the guys are gonna either have to commit to fighting or run away and you cannot win a fight like that like in this way. Either you fight or you don’t but when you go to that place it’s hard to fight Mike. What are you gonna do? You’re gonna get hit, so you gotta take it. And he could take it. But it’s the (dirty boxing) ruleset and the kind of fighting I think it’s really good for Mike and Conor… I wanna see that fight, let’s make it happen, it’s gonna be exciting.

Mike Perry didn’t hold back as he made a blunt yet effective call-out of Conor McGregor by shouting, “Let’s f—- go, McNuggets!, let’s go man,” a possible reference to Tony Ferguson’s callouts of the Irishman over the years. Bagz then chimed in to say, “Conor we can make it happen boy.”

Perry launched the Dirty Boxing Championship in July 2024 and it features an intriguing mix of traditional boxing and raw hand strikes, set in an 18-foot ring designed for maximum action. The first event by the newly launched promotion was held on November 23 and is already a hub for former UFC fighters.

The company’s debut event was held behind closed doors in Miami, with no broadcast or streaming partners in place. It also saw former UFC fighter Yoel Romero as the main attraction. Romero knocked outPowerSlap star Duane Crespo in the very first round to secure a win. Notably, Jon Jones was also in attendance at the inaugural event.

The fresh take on combat sports strips away complex grappling, focusing on fists, elbows, and raw aggression. Fighters can also follow up knockdowns with ground-and-pound strikes, provided they stay on their feet. The result? Brutality that’s both primal and strategic—a stage that might be seemingly tailor-made for McGregor’s penchant for the dramatic. 

If a fight between Perry and McGregor ever materializes, the Platinum has the potential to thrive here, using the unorthodox rule set to his advantage. But why a fight between Perry and McGregor could sell? Well, the two have a little heated history, which always makes for a good story in combat sports.

On July 20, Mike Perry stepped into the boxing ring to face Jake Paul in a bout that promised fireworks. Dubbed the “King of Violence,” Perry had carved out a reputation for his grit and relentless fighting style. But against the visibly larger Paul, Perry struggled. After six punishing rounds, he was stopped, leaving fans in shock

Conor McGregor, watching from the sidelines, didn’t hold back. Taking to social media, the Irishman publicly declared, “Hey Mike you’re released. And you can go and compete in your smelly dirty boxing championship thing, the smell of it, good luck. You’re fired.” Harsh words, even by McGregor’s standards, ignited a storm of speculation.

Was Perry really out of BKFC? McGregor later stated in an interview with The Schmo, “Mike [Perry] is fired, but we’re in negotiations.” In response, Perry fired back at McGregor in November, throwing the idea of a fight between the two in the open in 

In the documentary, ‘Down & Dirty’, Perry bluntly stated, “What’s making me mad is everybody sucking his balls,” Perry said after insisting that a fight between the pair would be ‘good for everybody’. “Like, he’s already fought for them. Hi, did y’all forget that I’m the reason y’all got pumped up right now?

If McGregor decides to take Perry up on his challenge, it could be a chance to move away from the negativity surrounding him and reestablish his name in the spotlight currently dimmed by external troubles. Still, in the midst of his financial challenges, there was a piece of good news for McGregor.

McGregor gains rare support after being dropped by partners

After the Dublin High Court verdict against him in the 2018 assault case, McGregor has seen some of his business partners desert him. Not only did the whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve, he found, dropped him, but major stores like Tesco, Spar, Eurospar, MACE, Londis, and many others have refused to keep any of the UFC fighter’s products on their shelves.

Meanwhile, JD Wetherspoon, a prominent pub chain, removed McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout from all seven of its locations in Ireland following the verdict. However, Swedish fitness brand Boxbollen has come out and stood by him despite the ongoing legal troubles.

“At Boxbollen, our mission is to inspire healthier, more active lifestyles. Conor McGregor has been a significant partner in promoting the importance of movement, fitness, and overall well-being,” Jacob Eriksson, co-founder of Boxbollen told TMZ.

Will there be more respite for McGregor in the coming days? Well, he has made it clear that he will challenge the ruling against him and it remains to be seen how it will impact him personally and professionally in the meantime. As for Perry’s offer, it could be a welcome distraction if “Notorious” decides to take it up.