Conor McGregor’s relationship with Paulie Malignaggi has taken a new turn.
‘Notorious’ has been feuding with Malignaggi for years and now he’s taken their rivalry to new heights by investing in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship [BKFC].
McGregor is now the part-owner of BKFC – a company Malignaggi works forCredit: @thenotoriousmma – instagram
The former dual-weight UFC champion interrupted BKFC KnuckleMania 4 on Saturday night to announce that he is now a part-owner of the ‘fastest rising sports promotion in the world’.
Malignaggi, who works as an analyst for BKFC rival BYB, previously found himself in the firing line when McGregor discovered former UFC commentator Mike Goldberg worked alongside him.
Immediately after his BKFC investment was revealed, old footage of the Irishman excitedly reacting to Goldberg getting a new job went viral on social media.
“Mike Goldberg. Mike Goldberg is back, baby. You thought you was getting…” McGregor said before Malignaggi distracted him.
He added when the camera panned to Malignaggi: “Shut your mouth… You thought you was getting rid of Mike Goldberg, think again! Goldberg is back, baby!”
McGregor then zoomed his camera into Malignaggi’s face and proceeded to let rip at the former two-weight world champion before offering him a job.
“You got boxed out the gym you little fool you,” he said. “Look at him, he got smacked out the gym and he got ran out of Showtime as well.
“You’re hired, lad, if you behave. Put a can of Forged Irish Stout on his nut and two bottles of whiskey out of his ears [laughs].”
McGregor shared footage that flattered him after sparring with MalignaggiCredit: @thenotoriousmma – instagram
Old footage of McGregor mocking ‘Magic Man’ has gone viral on social mediaCredit: @thenotoriousmma – instagram
Ahead of his ring debut against Floyd Mayweather in 2017, McGregor shared some sparring rounds with Malignaggi before posting footage that didn’t flatter the New York native.
One clip showed ‘Magic Man’ seemingly being dropped by the UFC legend, but the American has always insisted he won the spar and wasn’t knocked down by McGregor.
The two men have since become bitter enemies and Malignaggi takes every chance he gets to jab at the Irishman, who he still holds a grudge against seven years later.
Now, they are working for rival bare-knuckle promotions, fans can expect to see McGregor and Malignaggi take their beef to a whole different level.