“It’s hard to wake up and run those miles when you sleep in silk sheets,” boxing’s very own Marvin Hagler once said. And if there’s one man in combat sports who epitomizes this, it’s Conor McGregor, at least according to Dustin Poirier, a man who has shared the Octagon with him enough times to know. But think about it, once a hungry, two-division champion, now a multimillionaire businessman who spends more time promoting whiskey than throwing left hands. Can a man who’s made generational wealth still have the hunger to step into a blood-soaked Octagon (or bare-knuckle ring for that matter)?

Is this what BKFC fighter Dustin Pague meant when he said McGregor just doesn’t have it anymore? In a chat with Inside Fighting, Pague didn’t mince words. “As far as him being the champ, I just don’t see that ever happening. He’s at that point in his life where with the fame and the money, I just don’t think he has that hunger to be successful.”

‘The Disciple’ took it a step further, questioning whether the Irishman has the grit to endure the brutality of bare-knuckle fighting. “Do you get what I’m saying? You need something to drive you, and I don’t think he has that. When somebody doesn’t have that hunger and that true thirst to be a champion, they look for ways out. And if he gets clipped or hurt, he’s gonna quit.”

Hurts. But fair? The idea of McGregor winning a BKFC belt seems far-fetched to Pague, yet even he admits that ‘The Notorious’ stepping into the squared circle would be massive. “I think not at the level to be a champion, but definitely him stepping in the squared circle would be huge for the company, man, and that would get some crazy views.” So, is McGregor all talk, or does he actually have something left to prove?

McGregor, of course, would scoff at the mere suggestion. After all, this entire frenzy started the way most of his stories do, with ‘The Notorious’ grabbing a mic and making headlines. At a BKFC presser, he didn’t just flirt with the idea of fighting, he all but stamped a date on the calendar. “Yes, yes. The warrior spirit burns inside me strongly, for sure. If you think I’m up here giving these speeches and leading these men into battle and I won’t step in there myself, think again. For sure, Conor McGregor will fight in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, mark my words.”

Bold words. But bold words don’t win fights, do they? So, is he really gearing up for a blood-soaked brawl? Or is this just another McGregor trick to make sure we never stop saying his name?

And ‘The Diamond’ has seen this story play out before. He’s fought McGregor multiple times and believes the money has changed him. “The money he made after he fought Floyd, you know. Made a 100 million bucks fighting Floyd. Then came back defending belts, making really good money. He got rich, started his business. Sold it for a couple hundred million,” Poirier explained. So, has McGregor has always been about the big payday?

When did Conor McGregor cash out the most?

Despite all the mega-fights he’s had, McGregor himself recently claimed that his last fight against Poirier in 2021 made him more money than the entire historic Dmitry Bivol- Artur Beterbiev boxing card combined. He recently wrote on X, “If accurate, I made more than this entire card’s estimated payout combined in my last outing for the UFC. 2021. I garnered record gate, as well as record PPV’s for the company through my service. #MONEY.” That’s a flex, but if he’s still making more money sitting on the sidelines than actual active fighters, why risk stepping into the brutal world of BKFC?

To McGregor’s credit, his passion for combat sports is undeniable. Even as a spectator, he radiates intensity, often seen shadowboxing at events, yelling instructions, and hyping up fighters. But passion alone doesn’t equal a return to the ring. His long-anticipated UFC comeback was scheduled for UFC 303, but a leg injury derailed those plans. Since then, Michael Chandler, his supposed opponent, has moved on, leaving McGregor’s return in limbo.

With his increasing involvement in BKFC as a minority owner, many believe McGregor’s talk of fighting bare-knuckle is more of a promotional move rather than a real intention. If McGregor is serious about fighting bare-knuckle, there’s just one major roadblock—his UFC contract. Fighters under UFC deals can’t just moonlight for other promotions without Dana White’s approval. But guess what? Chael Sonnen recently dropped a bombshell that changes everything.

“I just got a call from a very, very inside source. Now, this might be all over the websites already, maybe you guys know this. I’m driving, I just got a call, I haven’t seen it anywhere—Conor McGregor has been green-lit to compete in bare-knuckle fighting,” Sonnen revealed on YouTube. So, UFC boss actually gave the green light? If true, this could be one of the biggest shake-ups in combat sports history. But let’s not pretend McGregor hasn’t teased things before only to pull back at the last second.

Is he really about to trade in those silk sheets for a blood-stained ring? Or is this just another way to keep his name in the headlines? ‘The Notorious’ never plays by the rules, but when it comes to actually fighting, the clock is ticking. What do you think? Will he really do it, or is this just another McGregor masterclass in keeping us all guessing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!