Conor McGregor took over James DeGale’s victory in his bare-knuckle debut, turning the Olympic champion’s hard-fought victory into a footnote.“

The Olympic gold medalist and former IBF world champion was thrown straight into a rancorous bloodbath with Matt Floyd in Manchester. There was hostility from the opening bell as both men threw punches with bad intentions and little respect for the rules.

Chaos and controversy in the Bareknuckle Ring

DeGale hit the canvas in the third round, just seconds after Floyd was docked two points for an intentional headbutt. The punishment didn’t end there. An overzealous referee then deducted two more points from Floyd for a sickening low blow that left the Londoner wincing.

Even as DeGale regrouped, the referee’s patience wore skinny, leading to a point deduction for DeGale himself in the fourth quarter. But the official’s repeated warnings most affected Floyd, whose resentment-fueled aggression repeatedly exceeded the boundaries of established rules.

Liverpool’s voices added fuel to the fire, with Lee Boyce and Tony Bellew shouting from opposite sides, adding fuel to an already toxic atmosphere.

After the final bell, the scorecards showed chaos: twice 48-43 and 47-44, which gave DeGale a unanimous decision and a 1-0 start in the bare-knuckle competition. It was a bloody and bruising initiation that showed the Olympic hero’s ability to survive in extreme conditions in which he was uncomfortable.

DeGale wins by unanimous decision! #BKFC81 pic.twitter.com/QTpOyv22KX

— DAZN Sport (@DAZN_Sport) September 27, 2025

McGregor steals the post-fight narrative

However, instead of focusing on DeGale’s resilience, BKFC co-owner Conor McGregor hijacked the post-fight narrative.

DeGale complained about Floyd’s soiled tactics, but his moment was drowned out by McGregor, who refused to allow anyone to speak. The UFC star shared a touching tribute to Ricky Hatton and was heard during interviews. He then took in the aftermath as if the night were his own.

DeGale outperforms Floyd after an action-packed battle 😤#BKFC81 | Watch only on DAZN | @DAZN_Sports pic.twitter.com/6fFRSJilHq

– Bar Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) September 27, 2025

A tainted victory for an Olympic champion

Every time DeGale or Floyd tried to reference the brutal fight they had just had, McGregor would interject, reeking of a man desperately trying to keep every camera lens on him.

It was a winning but tainted debut for DeGale – a hard-earned victory that should cement his place in the BKFC spotlight. Instead, it became the latest chapter in McGregor’s relentless quest to dominate at every stage, even when the blood and sweat belonged to someone else.

The views expressed in this article are those of Phil Jay.

About the author

Phil Jay is a seasoned boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. How Since 2010, editor-in-chief of World Boxing NewsJay has interviewed dozens of world champions AND reported at ringside during the most essential boxing nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.