Conor McGregor likes to make an entrance.
The previous two-division UFC champion not solely stopped by President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, however just some days later he made a fashionably late entrance to the BKFC KnuckleMania 5 press convention in Philadelphia. McGregor, who turned a component proprietor within the bare-knuckle promotion in 2024, was marketed as showing on the occasion however the press convention began and went on for practically an hour with out “The Infamous.”
That modified simply earlier than the fighters confronted off with McGregor storming out on stage as solely he might and he practically apologized for his tardiness.
“Sorry I’m late. I don’t give a f*ck,” McGregor shouted to a raucous crowd in Philadelphia. “I’m the large boss round right here. Philadelphia, what’s up? I’m right here to summon the Gods of combating to motion. Could they flip our combatants’ knuckles to knives.
“On Saturday night time, might all of us bleed within the honor of Philadelphia’s wealthy combating historical past. Could we as Naked Knuckle Combating Championships group, the alien of fight sports activities, rise above the night time sky and rain down blows viciously and show our value towards any deniers.”
Conor McGregor declares “I don’t give a f*ck” after displaying up late to the BKFC KnuckleMania V press convention
“I am the large boss round right here.” pic.twitter.com/y7DCasaokF
— MMA Combating (@MMAFighting) January 23, 2025
It was a surreal scene as McGregor promoted the principle occasion between Eddie Alvarez and Jeremy Stephens, having a shared historical past with each fighters whereas competing within the UFC.
McGregor turned the first-ever simultaneous two-division champion when he completed Alvarez again in 2016 on the UFC’s debut occasion in Madison Sq. Backyard in New York. Simply 48 hours earlier than that combat, McGregor additionally bought into an notorious trade with Jeremy Stephens at a press convention the place he uttered what has now change into one in every of his most iconic catchphrases.
“Who the f*ck is that man?” McGregor shouted at Stephens on stage.
Now, McGregor is true in the course of the fray as Alvarez and Stephens put together to conflict in a five-round major occasion at Wells Fargo Heart in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Earlier than McGregor made his look on the press convention, BKFC founder and CEO David Feldman introduced that the KnuckleMania 5 card on Saturday is anticipated to interrupt the all-time attendance report for a fight sports activities occasion held in Philadelphia — a report beforehand held by the UFC.
