In the often ruthless business of combat sports, fighter compensation remains a perennial flashpoint. While lucrative purses grab headlines, the long-term financial health and true partnership between athletes and the promotions they fuel are less frequently addressed. Enter Conor McGregor, not just as a fighter, but now as a significant player in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), who appears set on changing that dynamic in a move directly informed by his own past experiences.
At a recent BKFC press event, alongside promoter David Feldman, the “Notorious” Irishman made an announcement that cut through the usual fight hype: BKFC champions and long-tenured fighters would be offered equity in the promotion. This isn`t merely a bonus; it`s a tangible stake in the company`s future success, with potential valuations reportedly ranging from $100,000 to an impressive $3 million for the promotion`s most loyal and successful athletes.
This commitment to fighter ownership is particularly notable given McGregor`s history with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Cast your mind back to November 2016, immediately after his historic win over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205. McGregor stood as the first simultaneous two-division champion, a global phenomenon whose drawing power was arguably unmatched in the sport`s history. His performance in reclaiming the lightweight title and bringing the UFC to a sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York City was instrumental in the company`s trajectory.
It was during that post-fight press conference that McGregor made a clear demand: equity in the UFC. At the time, the promotion had recently been sold for a staggering $4 billion to WME-IMG (now Endeavor), a deal widely seen as benefiting from the massive surge in popularity and revenue that McGregor himself had largely driven. He felt, understandably, that he deserved a share of that ownership pie, a point he reiterated, noting celebrities held shares while the fighter most responsible for the value increase did not.
Despite his unprecedented success and significant role in the UFC`s financial growth during that pivotal period, McGregor`s public requests for equity seemingly went unanswered by the promotion`s new ownership. He has since spoken about this, expressing that he felt he “got nothing” in terms of ownership for the monumental effort and value he contributed to the UFC`s rise, even as he amassed considerable personal wealth through fight purses.
Now, years later, as a co-owner of BKFC, McGregor is putting his money where his mouth is. He`s offering the very thing he was denied, inviting his fighters to share in the ownership and potentially reap long-term benefits beyond their fight night paychecks. This move is more than just a business strategy; it`s a direct response to his own journey, creating a partnership model that aligns the fighters` success in the ring with the promotion`s success in the market.
As McGregor himself stated, emphasizing the difference from his past experience: “For me, I fought my heart and soul and gave everything to the rise of a company and I got nothing for it. Now here we are, our company, my company, we give back to the fighters who bleed for us. So welcome to the owners’ table our world champions and our UK champions, we are in this forever.”
Whether this model will become standard practice in BKFC or influence other promotions remains to be seen. However, it undeniably marks a significant moment, driven by a star who understands the immense value fighters create and is now positioned to compensate them for it in a way he wished he had been.
