Could Conor McGregor’s ACL setback and final UFC fight pave the way for a stunning BKFC homecoming at Croke Park?

Conor McGregor’s UFC future has suddenly become one of the biggest questions surrounding the former two-division champion. His long-awaited return ended in painful fashion when a knee injury stopped his fight with Max Holloway at UFC 329. McGregor later revealed that he suffered a torn ACL, leaving him facing a lengthy recovery at an age when every comeback carries greater risk.Yet retirement does not appear to be the only road ahead. With one fight reportedly remaining on his UFC contract and BKFC president David Feldman openly interested in signing him, McGregor could have another major option waiting outside the Octagon. A potential homecoming at Dublin’s Croke Park could give the Irish superstar a dramatic new stage for what may be the final chapter of his fighting career.Conor McGregor’s injury could push his career toward a future outside the UFCMcGregor’s comeback was supposed to answer a simple question: could one of MMA’s biggest stars still compete at the highest level?Instead, the fight ended before he could provide a clear answer.The Irishman returned after a five-year absence and immediately found himself under enormous attention. His bout with Holloway was not simply another fight. It was a test of whether McGregor could still create the kind of moments that made him one of the most recognizable fighters in combat sports.The injury changed everything.McGregor attempted a flying knee early in the contest but landed awkwardly. His movement quickly became a problem, and he struggled to remain on his feet. The referee eventually stopped the contest because McGregor could not continue safely.The torn ACL also creates a difficult timeline. At 38, McGregor cannot afford to treat rehabilitation as a minor setback. A long recovery could push his next fight deep into 2027, when the UFC landscape may look completely different.Max Holloway’s own career could also move in another direction. If Holloway continues chasing opportunities at lightweight, a third meeting with McGregor may become less attractive or less practical.That leaves McGregor with a decision that goes beyond simply getting healthy.He must decide what kind of final chapter he wants.A BKFC homecoming could give Conor McGregor a completely different final actThe most intriguing possibility may be waiting outside the UFC.McGregor is already a part-owner of BKFC and has previously shown interest in bare-knuckle competition. Now BKFC president David Feldman has publicly placed an even bigger idea on the table: bringing McGregor to Croke Park for his first BKFC appearance.“Conor [McGregor] has one fight left with the UFC and then let’s see what happens but I would love to do Conor in his first BKFC fight at Croke park in front of 83,000!”That proposal carries obvious commercial appeal, but it also means something more personal.Croke Park would put McGregor back in Ireland for what could become one of the defining events of his post-UFC career. The venue has the size and history to turn a fight into a national sporting occasion. For a fighter whose rise was built partly on his ability to connect with Irish fans, the location could make the event far more meaningful than another appearance in a major American arena.There is also a clear business case for BKFC. McGregor remains one of the most recognizable names in combat sports, even after years away from consistent competition. His presence could bring attention to bare-knuckle boxing that few other fighters could match.But McGregor still has unfinished business with the UFC.One remaining fight on his contract gives the promotion a say in what happens next. Whether he completes that obligation, negotiates a different path, or eventually walks away will shape the next stage of his career.The biggest question is therefore not whether McGregor can attract another huge audience. He almost certainly can.It is whether his body will allow him to make the comeback he still wants.A return after ACL surgery would already be difficult. A return to elite MMA competition after another long layoff would make the challenge even greater. Yet McGregor has built his career around doing things that seemed unlikely.If he does return, the destination could be just as important as the opponent.The UFC may still have one final chapter to write with Conor McGregor. But if Feldman gets his way, the most memorable scene of McGregor’s next chapter could unfold under the lights at Croke Park, with bare-knuckle gloves replacing the familiar UFC setting.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.