Conor McGregor is hinting at maybe the biggest BKFC signing yet.
At a press conference in Italy to promote the BKFC’s April 26 event in Florence, the promotion’s part-owner teased that MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko could soon join the roster. McGregor perked up when a reporter praised his accomplishments, comparing him to Emelianenko and Royce Gracie, before claiming that Emelianenko’s BKFC arrival is imminent.
“Fedor Emelianenko?” McGregor said. “Stay tuned, we might have some announcement with Fedor Emelianenko. Hey Fedor, we’re waiting. Some news might be coming with Fedor Emelianenko. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is signing and acquiring the best fighters of all time, past, present and future, and everyone wants to be a part of this.”
BKFC has attracted a number of standouts from the MMA world to compete in the ring, including former UFC champion Eddie Alvarez, and former UFC standouts Mike Perry, Jeremy Stephens, Ben Rothwell, Paige VanZant, Bec Rawlings, and Thiago Alves, among others. Adding Emelianenko, arguably the greatest MMA heavyweight of all time, would be a major coup for the organization.
Emelianenko, 48, retired in 2023 following a loss to a second loss to Ryan Bader at Bellator 290. He is best known for a legendary run from 2001-2009 that saw him go 28 consecutive fights without a loss, while defeating the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia, and Mark Hunt.
Since retiring, “The Last Emperor” has made little indication publicly that he plans to compete again.
Should Emelianenko stick to this retirement, it doesn’t sound like McGregor’s enthusiasm for BKFC has dimmed at all. Regardless of who decides to come to BKFC, McGregor is determined to bring BKFC to the world, with eyes on a card in his native Ireland next year.
“2026, I believe,” McGregor said when asked about a BKFC Ireland event. “We are coming back to Italy, we’ve already got No. 2 planned, so there will be announcements I’m sure on the close of the show of our second Italian event, so we are loving it here. And then we’ve got Dubai, we’ve got Australia, we’ve got a real globe-trotting plan here for 2025.
“I assume Ireland, which has a rich bare-knuckle history of itself, will be 2026. That’s what I will aim for, that’s what we will aim for.”
BKFC Italy takes place at Palazzo Wanny in Florence, Italy, on April 26. In the main event, cruiserweight champion Chris Camozzi meets Lorenzo Hunt in a rematch of their September 2023 title fight, which Hunt won by split decision.
I may actually watch if this happens, but I’m doubtful.
No thanks.
Stay retired Fedor.
BKFC is awesome. I highly recommed giving it a shot regardless if there are big names on the card or not!
There are some fun fights out there for Fedor still. If they can find another old legend I’m all for it. Don’t wanna see him fight a young killer though. Mark Hunt would be fun to see too if they can find interesting matchups for him.
Yeah, my next thought was maybe someone at a similar place age/mileage wise.
Fedor can still bang.
But I really don’t like the old “legends” fights as much I used to.
It usually just ends up being about who hasn’t lost as much yet, than anything else.
It’s not like watching Masters division golf or something. There are physical limitations that become very evident.
Not saying I wouldn’t watch and root for him though.
This is exactly my feelings.
Dude’s done everything he needed to do to cement and prove his legacy.
Fedor vs Jake Paul bare knuckle?
Fedor’s chin is gone and he’s old.
He will still be a contender
This
Whatever was left of Fedor’s chin is buried somewhere in the rubble of the demolished Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ after Bigfoot thrashed him in 2011.
We’re just lucky that Randleman suplex didn’t kill him.
That always hurts me so much as a Randleman fan… how Fedor immediately rolls over and submits him after the most legendary suplex of all time 
. Hurts me to this day, as that highlight just came across my Facebook feed this morning. @blas4ublasphemy
he was great, but lost his chin 10 years ago
stop
Would have liked to see him and Tito actually fight.
Edit^^^
I was so hyped for this way back when…
He’s such a fucking cringe, attention whore, dork