Conor McGregor, the former two-division Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion, has announced plans to retire from the UFC, but not in the traditional sense of ending his fighting career. Instead, he revealed that he intends to leave his gloves inside the Octagon, signaling a shift in his fighting focus. This announcement came during his appearance at Hype Italy on October 3, 2026, in Rome, where he was a special guest at an event featuring bareknuckle boxing, dirty boxing, and submission grappling.

While McGregor's retirement from UFC may seem like a conclusion, he is not stepping away from the fight scene entirely. Instead, he hinted at a new chapter in his career, with plans to make his debut in bareknuckle boxing. This transition marks a significant change for the fighter known for his striking prowess and charismatic personality, as he prepares to enter a different arena of combat sports.S1S2

As McGregor steps into this new phase, the MMA community is abuzz with speculation about what his bareknuckle boxing debut will entail and how it will compare to his illustrious career in the UFC. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how McGregor will adapt to the bareknuckle format, which presents unique challenges and requires a different skill set than traditional mixed martial arts.S1S2