Following Katie Taylor’s historic retirement fight at Croke Park, some have suggested that controversial MMA fighter Conor McGregor should follow in her footsteps. 

The 38-year-old returned to the UFC this summer when he faced Max Holloway. However, the momentous occasion turned to disappointment when the Dubliner suffered a knee injury just seconds into the match. 

He has since revealed that he was dealing with an ACL injury leading up to the rematch and is understood to be committed to competing once again post-surgery.

Now, following Taylor’s Croke Park success, some have McGregor pegged for a massive Irish homecoming. 

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McGregor suffered a knee injury just seconds into his return to the UFC. Pic: Ian Maule/Getty Images

BKFC boss David Feldman reportedly has his eyes on holding a fight at the home of Irish sport. This coincides with McGregor, who is a part-owner of BKFC and has just one fight remaining on his UFC contract, expressing his interest in trying bare-knuckle fighting. 

Speaking to the Mirror, Feldman revealed: ‘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!’

‘BKFC has built a reputation for staging spectacular events, having recently delivered a stunning show at Fenway Park in Boston,’ he continued. 

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BKFC boss David Feldman reportedly has his eyes on holding a fight at the home of Irish sport. Pic: Twitter

However, McGregor has already landed himself in hot water over comments made on Taylor’s victorious final bout against Flora Pili on Saturday. 

The UFC fighter suggested that Taylor, who placed her gloves in the centre of a ring as a symbol of ending her career, should fight again. 

Taking to social media, McGregor said: ‘Fantastic scenes in Croke Park, Ireland for Katie Taylor’s most recent fight! She looked better than ever! Younger, fresher, renewed like the eagles! ALL HAIL KING JESUS! #GoAgainKatie #OneMoreTune #RetirementPostponed #JesusReigns

‘Katie Taylor, let’s do ONE MORE FOR THE MAC Well done champ!,’ he later said. Another post read: ‘McGregor Taylor Muhammad Ali.’ This was seemingly a reference to Ali’s legendary bout at Croke Park in 1972.

This saw McGregor accused of seeking his own time in the limelight rather than allowing Taylor to enjoy ending her career on a high note. 

‘A lot of differences between you and Katie: she earned the respect in Ireland and then conquered the world,’ one user said.

Another added: ‘Don’t think I have ever seen her trying to steal the limelight, which you are trying to do now.’ 

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‘A lot of differences between you and Katie she earned the respect in Ireland and then conquered the world,’ one user said. Pic: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

McGregor lost much of his popularity both at home and abroad when he was found civilly liable for assaulting Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in 2018. 

A High Court jury awarded Ms Hand almost €250,000 in damages. McGregor has denied her allegations, maintaining the pair had consensual sex and has appealed the High Court’s decision. 

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McGregor lost much of his popularity both at home and abroad when he was found criminally liable for assaulting Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in 2018. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Speaking outside court following appeal proceedings earlier this year, Ms Hand said she had been ‘retraumatised’ by the legal process.

‘To every survivor out there, I know how hard it is, but please don’t be silenced. You deserve to be heard. You also deserve justice. Today I can finally move on and try to heal,’ she said.