Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Bare-knuckle boxing promotion |
Founded | 2018 |
Founder | David Feldman |
Headquarters | , |
Owner | Triller |
Website | https://www.bareknuckle.tv |
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is an American bare-knuckle boxing promotion based in Philadelphia. BKFC is the first promotion to hold an official state-sanctioned and commissioned bare-knuckle boxing event in the United States since 1889. [1] Its first event was held in 2018, with 49 "numbered" events held as of August 2023. [2] [3] [4]
BKFC was founded in April 2018 and is presided over by former American professional boxer David Feldman. After first receiving approval to hold a sanctioned event in Cheyenne, Wyoming, BKFC held the first state sanctioned bare-knuckle boxing event in the United States since 1889. Each fight takes place in a specialized circular four-rope ring, referred to as the "Squared Circle.” BKFC 1, which took place on June 2, 2018, featured the first American sanctioned women's bare-knuckle fight in modern history. [5] The Bare-Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame recognized this milestone and awarded the victor of this contest, Bec Rawlings, with the National Police Gazette World Diamond Belt several days after her victory. [6] BKFC recognizes the Police Gazette champions, and they may defend their titles within this promotion. At BKFC 3, Arnold Adams defeated Sam Shewmaker in the finals of an eight-man tournament to be crowned as the inaugural BKFC Heavyweight Champion. This event also hosted the quarterfinals of a tournament to crown a Lightweight champion. [7] In February, 2019, former UFC light heavyweight title contender Anthony Johnson announced that he will be joining the company in an administrative role. [8]
In October 2021, Nick Chapman established Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand (BKFC Thailand), the officially licensed branch of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) in Asia. [9] BKFC Thailand held its inaugural event on December 18, 2021, titled BKFC Thailand 1: The Game Changer. [10] The event featured big names like former two-division WBC boxing champion Sirimongkol Singmanasak and Muay Thai fighter Sinsamut Klinmee. [11] As the organization continued to expand, BKFC Thailand underwent a rebranding to BKFC Asia on November 14, 2022. Despite the name change, events hosted in Thailand retained the BKFC Thailand designation to maintain regional recognition.
On February 24, 2022, David Feldman announced on Ariel Helwani's show that TrillerNet had acquired a majority stake of BKFC, while not disclosing the value of the deal or percentages of the stake. [12]
On June 24, 2022, BKFC Lightweight Champion Luis Palomino won the Welterweight Championship to become the first double champion in BKFC history.
In September 2022 it was announced by David Feldman that BKFC had acquired the UK-based Bare Fist Boxing Association (BFBA), forming Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship United Kingdom (BKFC UK). [13]
Bare Knuckle Thai rules are similar to Muay Thai, with the notable exception that competitors fight without gloves. Matches consist of five rounds, with each round lasting two minutes. The rules permit the use of kicks, punches, elbows, and knees, but explicitly prohibit trips and sweeps. Fighters must also remain active in a clinch, which lasts for three seconds. In the event of a draw, a sixth extension round will be fought to determine a winner. [14] [15] BKFC Thailand held the first special rules Bare Knuckle Thai bout, featuring Muay Thai legends Buakaw Banchamek and Saenchai, at BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam on November 4, 2023.
On August 20, 2021, BKFC was involved in controversy after the death of boxer Justin Thornton at BKFC 20. [16] Justin Thornton died as a result of spinal injury suffered during his BKFC debut. [17] Thornton had been on a five-fight losing streak ahead of the fight. The matchmaking and regulations were criticised following the news on social media and by UFC president Dana White. [18]
In 2023, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship announced the launch of the BKFC Prospects Series. Fighters on the Prospects Series will compete in front of BKFC President David Feldman for a chance at a contract with BKFC. The series is similar in format to Dana White's Contender Series or the PFL Challenger Series in mixed martial arts. Competitors in the Prospects Series include previous participants at BKFC open tryouts, as well as athletes with backgrounds in boxing, Muay Thai, and mixed martial arts. [19] [20] The first edition of the BKFC Prospects Series premiered on August 24, 2023, in Miami, with six contracts being awarded. [21]
Initially, BKFC pay-per-view bouts were carried worldwide via FITE TV. On July 24, 2020, it was announced that starting on August, DAZN will be streaming BKFC events. [22] In February 2023, Fite announced to include all events to its Fite+ subscription service. [23]
BKFC holds all bouts in a circular four-rope ring, referred to as the "Squared Circle". This ring incorporates elements of historical bare knuckle fighting by containing two scratch lines, three feet apart and in the middle of the ring. These scratch lines are based on the Broughton Rules, which governed bare knuckle fighting in the 19th century. It is a requirement that each fighter must start each round with their front foot on their scratch line. This is referred to as “Toe the Line”, and it is an instruction given to the fighters at the beginning of each round, followed by "Knuckle Up" which signals the beginning of the round. [24]
Division | Upper weight limit | Gender |
---|---|---|
Heavyweight | Unlimited | Male |
Cruiserweight | 205 lb (93 kg) | Male |
Light heavyweight | 185 lb (84 kg) | Male |
Middleweight | 175 lb (79 kg) | Male |
Welterweight | 165 lb (75 kg) | Male |
Lightweight | 155 lb (70 kg) | Male |
Featherweight | 145 lb (66 kg) | Male |
Bantamweight | 135 lb (61 kg) | Male |
Flyweight | 125 lb (57 kg) | Male / Female |
Strawweight | 115 lb (52 kg) | Female |
Division | Champion | Since | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|
Heavyweight | Mick Terrill | December 2, 2023 | 0 |
Cruiserweight | Lorenzo Hunt [112] [113] | October 1, 2022 | 1 |
Light heavyweight | November 12, 2021 | 2 | |
Middleweight | |||
David Mundell | December 3, 2022 | 2 | |
Welterweight | Austin Trout | February 2, 2024 | 0 |
Lightweight | Luis Palomino | July 24, 2020 | 6 |
Featherweight | Kai Stewart | June 9, 2023 | 1 |
Bantamweight | Keith Richardson | October 20, 2023 | 0 |
Flyweight | John Dodson | August 11, 2023 | 1 |
Women's Flyweight | Christine Ferea | February 19, 2022 | 3 |
Women's Strawweight | Britain Hart | September 10, 2022 | 2 |
Division | Champion | Since | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|
World Heavyweight | Arnold Adams | November 6, 2021 | 1 |
World Light Heavyweight | Lorenzo Hunt | October 10, 2020 | 1 |
World Middleweight | Barrie Jones | April 10, 2021 | 0 |
World Welterweight | Elvin Brito | January 9, 2022 | 0 |
World Lightweight | Luis Palomino [115] | July 24, 2020 | 4 |
World Bantamweight | Johnny Bedford | August 20, 2021 | 0 |
World Women's Bantamweight | Patricia Juarez | May 28, 2022 | 0 |
World Women's Flyweight | Christine Ferea | February 19, 2022 | 0 |
Division | Champion | Since | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|
Light Heavyweight | Sirimongkol Singmanasak | May 7, 2022 | 0 |
Featherweight | Krisana Srisang | November 4, 2023 | 0 |
Women's Strawweight | Po Denman | November 4, 2023 | 0 |
Division | Champion | Since | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|
Cruiserweight | Anthony Holmes | November 26, 2022 | 0 |
Light Heavyweight | Danny Christie | April 22, 2023 | 1 |
Featherweight | Ellis Shepherd | April 6, 2024 | 0 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Arnold Adams def. Sam Shewmaker | BKFC 3 Biloxi, Mississippi | October 20, 2018 | |
2 | Chase Sherman | BKFC 7 Biloxi, Mississippi | August 10, 2019 | |
3 | Joey Beltran | BKFC 9 Biloxi, Mississippi | November 16, 2019 | 1. def. Marcel Stamps at BKFC 13 on October 10, 2020 2. def. Sam Shewmaker at BKFC 18 on June 26, 2021 |
4 | Arnold Adams (2) | BKFC Fight Night: New York Salamanca, New York | November 6, 2021 | 1. def. Dillon Cleckler at BKFC 25 on May 6, 2022 |
5 | Alan Belcher | BKFC 36: Adams vs. Belcher Kenner, Louisiana | February 24, 2023 | |
Belcher was stripped of the title in June 2023 after he accepted a boxing fight outside the organization against Chase DeMoor [117] | ||||
6 | Mick Terrill def. Arnold Adams | BKFC 56: Utah Salt Lake City, Utah | December 2, 2023 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Héctor Lombard def. Joe Riggs | BKFC 18 Miami, Florida | June 26, 2021 | |
The Cruiserweight title was vacated. | ||||
2 | Lorenzo Hunt def. Quentin Henry | BKFC 30: Monroe Monroe, Louisiana | October 1, 2022 | 1. def. Chris Camozzi at BKFC 50 on September 22, 2023 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lorenzo Hunt def. Héctor Lombard | BKFC 22 Miami, Florida | November 12, 2021 | 1. def. Joe Riggs at BKFC 24 on April 30, 2022 |
- | Mike Richman def. Isaac Doolittle for interim title | BKFC 31 Broomfield, Colorado | October 15, 2022 | |
Josh Dyer and Jared Warren fought to a No-Contest on July 14, 2023, at BKFC 47 for the BKFC Light Heavyweight interim title. |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Thiago Alves def. Ulysses Diaz | BKFC 18 Miami, Florida | June 26, 2021 | |
Alves was stripped of the title in June 2022 after he and the organization were not able to reach agreement on new contract. [118] | ||||
- | Francesco Ricchi def. Ulysses Diaz for the interim title | BKFC 26 Hollywood, Florida | June 24, 2022 | |
2 | David Mundell def. Francesco Ricchi for undisputed title | BKFC 34 Hollywood, Florida | December 3, 2022 | 1. def. Mike Richman at BKFC 47 on July 14, 2023 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elvin Brito def. Kaleb Harris | BKFC Fight Night: Jackson Jackson, Mississippi | January 29, 2022 | |
2 | Luis Palomino | BKFC 26 Hollywood, Florida | June 24, 2022 | |
The Welterweight title was vacated. | ||||
3 | Gorjan Slaveski def. Jake Lindsey | BKFC 49 Miami | August 25, 2023 | |
Slaveski was stripped of the title on December 14, 2023, after he accepted a karate fight against Brandon Jenkins without the permission of BKFC. [119] | ||||
1 | Austin Trout def. Luis Palomino | BKFC 57 Hollywood, California | February 2, 2024 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Luis Palomino def. Isaac Vallie-Flagg | BKFC 11 Oxford, Mississippi | July 24, 2020 | 1. def. Jim Alers at BKFC 14 on November 13, 2020 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kai Stewart def. Louie Lopez | BKFC 44 Great Falls, Montana | June 9, 2023 | 1. def. Howard Davis at BKFC 56 on December 2, 2023 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Johnny Bedford def. Reggie Barnett Jr. | BKFC 6 Tampa, Florida | June 22, 2019 | |
2 | Dat Nguyen | BKFC: KnuckleMania Lakeland, Florida | February 5, 2021 | |
Nguyen was stripped of the title in June 2021 after he and the organization were not able to reach agreement on new contract. [118] | ||||
3 | Johnny Bedford (2) def. Reggie Barnett Jr. | BKFC 20 Biloxi, Mississippi | August 20, 2021 | |
— | Jarod Grant def. Anthony Retic for interim title | BKFC Fight Night: New York 2 Salamanca, New York | March 12, 2022 | |
— | Reggie Barnett Jr. def. Jarod Grant for interim title | BKFC FN: Tampa 2 Tampa, Florida | July 23, 2022 | 1. def. Geane Herrera at BKFC 32 on November 5, 2022 |
Bedford retired from combat sports. | ||||
4 | Reggie Barnett Jr. promoted to undisputed champion | January, 2023 | 1. def. Daniel Alvarez at BKFC 39 on March 24, 2023 | |
5 | Keith Richardson | BKFC 52: South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina | October 20, 2023 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | John Dodson def. JR Ridge | BKFC 48 Albuquerque, New Mexico | August 11, 2023 | 1. drew with Dagoberto Aguero at BKFC 59 on March 29, 2024 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Christine Ferea def. Britain Hart | BKFC KnuckleMania 2 Hollywood, Florida | February 19, 2022 | 1. def. Taylor Starling at BKFC 28 on August 27, 2022 |
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Britain Hart def. Charisa Sigala | BKFC 29 Great Falls, Montana | September 10, 2022 | 1. def. Jenny Clausius at BKFC 39 on March 24, 2023 |
Weight Class | Champion | Runner-up | Event | Date | Tournament Bracket |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heavyweight Championship Tournament | Arnold Adams | Sam Shewmaker | BKFC 3: The Takeover | October 20, 2018 | Heavyweight Tournament Bracket |
Lightweight Championship Tournament | Johnny Bedford | Reggie Barnett Jr. | BKFC 6: Malignaggi vs. Lobov | June 22, 2019 | Lightweight Tournament Bracket |
Super Welterweight Championship Tournament | Luis Palomino | Isaac Vallie-Flagg | BKFC 11: Palomino vs. Vallie-Flagg | July 24, 2020 | Super Welterweight Tournament Bracket |
Oldest champion | Héctor Lombard | 43 years, 8 months |
Youngest champion | Kai Stewart | 22 years, 11 months |
Longest championship reign | Luis Palomino | 1365 days (incumbent) |
Shortest championship reign | Chase Sherman | 98 days |
Most title fight wins | Luis Palomino | 8 |
Most wins | Lorenzo Hunt | 11 |
Most consecutive title defenses | Luis Palomino | 6 |
Sombat Banchamek a.k.a. Buakaw Banchamek is a professional Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer from Thailand of ethnic Kuy descent, who formerly fought out of Por. Pramuk Gym, in Bangkok, Thailand, under the ring name Buakaw Por. Pramuk.
Thiago Alves is a Brazilian bare-knuckle fighter and former mixed martial artist. A 27-fight veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he competed in the promotion from 2005 until 2019. Aside from being a professional fighter, Alves has been a striking coach at the American Top Team since 2017.
Suphachai "Saenchai" Saepong, formerly known as Saenchai Sor. Kingstar, is a Thai muaythai of Khon Isan descent. Saenchai won the Lumpinee Stadium title, which is widely considered the most prestigious title in Muay Thai, in four different weight divisions, while mostly fighting larger opponents. He is considered by many to be the best pound for pound Muay Thai fighter, and is regarded as one of the best fighters of all time. Saenchai would often give up weight to find worthy opponents in Thailand, and from 2003 to 2014 only lost two times in Thailand when the weights were equal, with all other losses happening when he was forced to have a weight disadvantage to make the fights more equal.
Luis Vicente Palomino is a Peruvian-American mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle fighter who is the current Lightweight champion Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, he once held both Lightweight and Welterweight, making him the first “double champ” in the BKFC. He also competed in the Lightweight division for the World Series of Fighting and Absolute Championship Berkut. In addition, he previously fought in the featherweight division.
Michael Richman is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Legacy Fighting Alliance. A professional competitor in mixed martial arts since 2008, Richman has competed for Bellator MMA, and is also 2-0 as a professional boxer. Richman currently competes as a bare-knuckle boxer with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
Dat Nguyen is a Vietnamese-born American boxer and bare-knuckle boxer. He recently competed in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and was the BKFC Bantamweight Champion.
John Dodson is an American mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer who competes in the flyweight divisions of Rizin Fighting Federation and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, where in the latter promotion, he is the inaugural and current BKFC Flyweight Champion. A professional mixed martial arts competitor since 2004, Dodson has made a name for himself fighting mainly in the Southwest region. He was the winner of the Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller and competed in Ultimate Fighting Championship where he was a two-time title challenger, competing most recently in the bantamweight division, and is a veteran of the promotion with 9 years of competition.
Dakota Galen Cochrane is an American mixed martial artist who fights in the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions. He has competed for Bellator MMA, Resurrection Fighting Alliance, Legacy Fighting Championship, Titan Fighting Championships, and Legacy Fighting Alliance. Cochrane is currently competing as a bare-knuckle boxer in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). He has victories over former UFC fighters Johny Hendricks and Chris Leben.
Bec Rawlings is an Australian mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer, who currently competes in the flyweight division.
The year 2019 is the 2nd year in the history of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, a bare-knuckle fighting promotion based in Philadelphia. The season started with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 4: USA vs Mexico. BKFC is available on PPV all over the world and on FITE TV.
The year 2020 was the 3rd year in the history of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, a bare-knuckle fighting promotion based in Philadelphia.
The year 2021 was the 4th year in the history of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, a bare-knuckle fighting promotion based in Philadelphia. The year consisted of 13 events, including an inaugural Fight Night event alongside nine title fights. The promotion also saw the inception of the new Cruiserweight division and its inaugural title fight at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 18.
The year 2022 was the 5th year in the history of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, a bare-knuckle fighting promotion based in Philadelphia.
The year 2023 was the 6th year in the history of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, a bare-knuckle fighting promotion based in Philadelphia.
Chaloemporn Sawatsuk is a Thai professional boxer and Muay Thai kickboxer who has held the Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) welterweight and World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia Silver light heavyweight titles. He has fought across five different weight classes in boxing: welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and cruiserweight. In kickboxing, he also competed for the Japanese promotion RISE. He is also known by the ring names Chaloemporn Singwancha and Kontualai JM Boxinggym.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand (BKFC Thailand), officially known as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Asia (BKFC Asia), is a bare-knuckle boxing promotion based in Pattaya, Thailand. It is the officially licensed branch of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) in Asia. BKFC Asia is the first promotion in Thailand and Asia to receive full international licensing and sanctioning for bare-knuckle boxing. Founded in 2021, BKFC Asia has held 5 total events as of November 2023.
Lorenzo Hunt is an American mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer. He currently competes in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, where he is the current BKFC Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight Champion. A professional bare-knuckle fighter since 2019, Hunt has also competed for BYB Extreme Fighting Series.
Britain Hart is an American professional boxer and bare-knuckle boxer. She currently competes in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) where she is the current and inaugural BKFC Women's Strawweight Champion. As a boxer, she competed in the featherweight division.
Francesco Ricchi is an Italian-American bare-knuckle boxer and mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, where he is a former interim BKFC Middleweight Champion. As a mixed martial artist, he has competed in the welterweight division.
The year 2024 is the 7th year in the history of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, a bare-knuckle fighting promotion based in Philadelphia.