Conor McGregor loves to make an entrance.
The former two-division UFC champion not only stopped by President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, but just a few days later he made a fashionably late entrance to the BKFC KnuckleMania 5 press conference in Philadelphia. McGregor, who became a part owner in the bare-knuckle promotion in 2024, was advertised as appearing at the event but the press conference started and went on for nearly an hour without “The Notorious.”
That changed just before the fighters faced off with McGregor storming out on stage as only he could and he nearly 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 big boss around here. Philadelphia, what’s up? I’m here to summon the Gods of fighting to action. May they turn our combatants’ knuckles to knives.
“On Saturday night, may we all bleed in the honor of Philadelphia’s rich fighting history. May we as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships organization, the alien of combat sports, rise above the night sky and rain down blows viciously and prove our worth against any deniers.”
Conor McGregor declares “I don’t give a f*ck” after showing up late to the BKFC KnuckleMania V press conference
“I’m the big boss around here.” pic.twitter.com/y7DCasaokF
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) January 23, 2025
It was a surreal scene as McGregor promoted the main event between Eddie Alvarez and Jeremy Stephens, having a shared history with both fighters while competing in the UFC.
McGregor became the first-ever simultaneous two-division champion when he finished Alvarez back in 2016 at the UFC’s debut event in Madison Square Garden in New York. Just 48 hours before that fight, McGregor also got into an infamous exchange with Jeremy Stephens at a press conference where he uttered what has now become one of his most iconic catchphrases.
“Who the f*ck is that guy?” McGregor shouted at Stephens on stage.
Now, McGregor is right in the middle of the fray as Alvarez and Stephens prepare to clash in a five-round main event at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Before McGregor made his appearance at the press conference, BKFC founder and CEO David Feldman announced that the KnuckleMania 5 card on Saturday is expected to break the all-time attendance record for a combat sports event held in Philadelphia — a record previously held by the UFC.
