Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) will make its highly anticipated Middle Eastern debut on April 4th and 5th at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Stadium, promising two nights of fierce, unfiltered fights. With four World Championship fights on the line and an excellent pool of fighters, the event has already garnered international attention. But few are as ecstatic as Conor McGregor, who has been hyping up the promotion’s expansion while simultaneously taking a minute to recognize something far more important—the man and vision behind Dubai’s unprecedented $116 billion achievement.

As BKFC prepares for this historic event, McGregor has focused his attention on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the driving force behind Dubai’s spectacular rise. The Irish superstar, who has always admired bold actions and ambitious leadership, couldn’t help but notice Dubai’s transition into one of the world’s top destinations for business, sports, and entertainment. The Irishman took to Instagram to share a documentary clip showing Sheikh Mohammed’s vision from 1975, when Dubai was still a growing metropolis with nowhere near the worldwide prestige it now enjoys. Along with the video, he expressed his admiration in only five words: “Legendary! See you soon, Dubai.”

With BKFC’s entry expected to create waves in the combat sports world, Conor McGregor’s statements feel like more than simply a tribute—they’re an indication that Dubai is possibly emerging as the next big fight capital. BKFC President David Feldman shared the same vision, emphasizing the promotion’s quick expansion. “Eight events in six weeks, four countries—this is the next evolution of combat sports,” he said.

As BKFC makes its way to Dubai, the stage is set for an event that might forever change the landscape of bare-knuckle fighting. With ‘The Notorious’ fueling the excitement through such stories, it’s evident that this is more than just another event; it’s a statement about the future of combat sports. In fact, the BKFC is making sure that they invest in their future, as they have just signed a major star who has gotten Conor McGregor all excited about what’s about to come next.

Conor McGregor welcomes major star to the BKFC

BKFC’s arrival in Dubai has already made headlines, but it isn’t the only reason Conor McGregor is fired up. The Irish superstar is enjoying a significant addition to the BKFC roster that brings both experience and controversy. Jessica “Evil” Eye, a former UFC flyweight title challenger, is making the switch to bare-knuckle fighting, and ‘The Notorious’ is all in on her transition. As a BKFC co-owner, he sees her signing as another step toward legitimizing the promotion and expanding its roster with battle-tested fighters from the world of MMA.

Eye, 38, has not competed in more than three years, with her previous UFC stint ending in four straight losses. Despite her losses, she remains a 15-year veteran of the sport, having fought for the UFC title in 2019. While many questioned if she still had the drive to fight, Eye made it clear that BKFC provided something she couldn’t pass up: a brighter financial future. “Maybe these guys will take care of me in a way that I wasn’t taken care of in my UFC fights,” she said on The Ariel Helwani Show. That financial security, combined with BKFC’s rising popularity, made it an easy decision for Eye, who is scheduled to make her debut in Salt Lake City on May 10.

McGregor, who is known for favoring fighters who lose chaos, praised Eye’s signing, citing her physical condition and mindset. But his presence represents more than just a vote of confidence; BKFC is no longer a sideshow. With an increasing number of former UFC fighters making the crossover and a three-year broadcast deal with DAZN, the promotion is vying for mainstream attention. Eye’s entrance could be the catalyst that inspires more female fighters to put themselves to the test in the brutal realm of bare-knuckle boxing. And if ‘The Notorious’ gets his way, BKFC’s rise is just beginning. What do you think? Will BKFC find major success in Dubai? Let us know in the comments.