UFC star Conor McGregor becomes part owner of BKFC

Inside the growing rivalry between two of the best guards in the East

Conor McGregor's empire is expanding.

The former two-division UFC champion is now a part-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships, he announced during the BKFC KnuckleMania 4 card Saturday night.

"'The Notorious' Conor McGregor here," McGregor said in a video that aired before the evening's co-main event. "Ladies and gentlemen, the huge announcement that I have for you today, Conor McGregor myself and McGregor Sports and Entertainment is now an owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships."

"Welcome to the big leagues. David Feldman, baby, we did it," McGregor said, referring to the BKFC president.

Triller will remain the majority shareholder of the promotion while McGregor Sports and Entertainment enters as a part owner.

McGregor appeared at a BKFC event last year and expressed his desire to compete for the promotion. He even went as far as to have an impromptu faceoff with Mike Perry, who knocked out Thiago Alves in the main event of KnuckleMania 4.

Rather than immediately compete -- as he is set to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June -- McGregor has found another way to be a part of the largest bare knuckle organization in the world. Before the announcement, McGregor's Proper Twelve and Forged Irish Stout have served as sponsorship partners of the promotion.

"I think it's just going to move the needle tremendously," BKFC president David Feldman said. "We're going to do a lot of big things. We're going to open up a lot of new markets."

A partnership with McGregor will expand the reach of the BKFC with McGregor's ability to promote and will likely become a destination for fighters to try their hand in bare knuckle competition.