The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is an American bare-knuckle boxingpromotion based in Philadelphia. The promotion was founded in April 2018, and is presided over by David Feldman.
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 82 "numbered" events held as of April 2024.[2][3][4]
History
BKFC's inaugural event, 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 later.[6] 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]
On March 6, 2021, before the establishment of BKFC Thailand, BKFC organized BKFC: Bare Knuckle Kingdom in partnership with Full Metal Dojo in Thailand.[9][10][11] In October 2021, Nick Chapman established Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand (BKFC Thailand), the first, officially-licensed branch of BKFC in Asia.[12] BKFC Thailand held its inaugural event on December 18, 2021, sub-titled "The Game Changer". However, as of July 2024, BKFC Thailand ceased operations, and is now defunct.
On February 24, 2022, David Feldman announced on The MMA Hour that TrillerNet had acquired a majority stake of BKFC.[13] At BKFC 26, 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 that BKFC had acquired the UK-based Bare Fist Boxing Association (BFBA), forming Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship United Kingdom (BKFC UK).[14] The United Kingdom is a significant market for modern bare-knuckle boxing, hosting prominent promotions such as Bare Knuckle Boxing (BKB™) in Coventry, Bad To The Bone (BTTB) in Stoke-on-Trent, and Ultimate Bare Knuckle Boxing (UBKB) in Warrington. Before acquiring the Bare Fist Boxing Association and officially establishing BKFC UK, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship made its debut in the United Kingdom with BKFC 27: London, which took place on 20 August 2022. The event was headlined by MMA veterans Mike Perry and Michael Page.[15] On November 14, 2022, BKFC Thailand underwent a rebranding to BKFC Asia, though events hosted in Thailand retained the "BKFC Thailand" designation to maintain regional recognition.
In 2023, BKFC 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; 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.[16][17] The first edition of the BKFC Prospects Series premiered on August 24, 2023, in Miami, with six contracts being awarded.[18]
In 2024, at the occasion of BKFC: Knucklemania IV, it was announced that Conor McGregor and his company "McGregor Sports and Entertainment" were now part owners of BKFC.[19][20][21] On June 5, 2024, BKFC announced a talent-sharing program with the Japan-based Rizin Fighting Federation, in which both companies would allow talent fight in each other's organizations in bareknuckle bouts.[22] At Super Rizin 3 on July 28, 2024, Charisa Sigal, Tai Emery, Takaki Soya, and John Dodson all fought in bareknuckle bouts on the undercard.
In July, 2025, Conor McGregor and David Feldman made a number announcements at the inaugural BKFC 2025 Champions Summit on Hollywood, Florida. The announcements included launching the BKFC’s World's Baddest Man $25 Million Tournament and acquiring majority shares in a Lethwei promotion in Asia.[23] This new branch of BKFC was named "BKFC Lethwei" and headed by former BKFC Thailand CEO, Nick Chapman.[24]
Rules
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.[25]
Bare Knuckle Thai
Bare Knuckle Thai was a officially licensed brand of BKFC in Thailand. However, as of July 2024, BKFC Thailand ceased operations, and is now defunct.
Rules were 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 permitted the use of kicks, punches, elbows, and knees, but explicitly prohibit trips and sweeps. Fighters had to remain active in a clinch, which lasts for three seconds. In the event of a draw, a sixth extension round was fought to determine a winner.[26][27] 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.
Broadcasting partners
BKFC pay-per-view events were initially carried worldwide on FITE TV. On July 24, 2020, it was announced that DAZN would begin streaming BKFC events in August.[28]
After the Triller acquisition, Fite announced in February 2023 that all BKFC events would be included for Fite+ subscribers.[29]
On September 13, 2024, it was announced that BKFC and DAZN formed a three-year agreement which will allow DAZN to broadcast the BKFC events starting in October.[30]
1. def. Mike Richman at BKFC 47 on July 14, 2023 2. def. Doug Coltrane at BKFC 53 on November 3, 2023 3. def. Danny Christie at BKFC on DAZN on October 12, 2024 4. def. Donald Sanchez at BKFC 75 on June 6, 2025
The inaugural champion was determined by a 4-man tournament. This title was previously referred to as the BKFC Super Welterweight Championship before being renamed.
1. def. Jim Alers at BKFC 14 on November 13, 2020 2. def. Tyler Goodjohn at BKFC 18 on June 26, 2021 3. def. Dat Nguyen at BKFC 22 on November 12, 2021 4. def. Martin Brown at BKFC: KnuckleMania 2 on February 19, 2022 5. def. Tom Shoaff at BKFC 34 on December 3, 2022 6. def. James Lilley at BKFC 45 on June 23, 2023
In January 2024, Palomino stated the title was vacated because he felt he had no more to achieve in the division.[177]
1. def. Howard Davis at BKFC 56 on December 2, 2023 2. def. Bryan Duran at BKFC 62 on June 21, 2024 3. def. Jimmie Rivera at BKFC on DAZN 2 on November 9, 2024 4. def. Tommy Strydom at BKFC 72 on April 5, 2025
Bantamweight Championship
Weight limit: 135 lbs (61.2 kg)
The inaugural champion was determined by an 8-man tournament. This title was previously referred to as the BKFC Lightweight Championship before being renamed.
1. def. Taylor Starling at BKFC 28 on August 27, 2022 2. def. Bec Rawlings at BKFC 41 on April 29, 2023 3. def. Bec Rawlings at BKFC 56 on December 2, 2023 4. def. Jade Masson-Wong at BKFC 65 on September 6, 2024 5. def. Christine Vicens at BKFC on DAZN 3 on December 21, 2024
1. def. Jenny Clausius at BKFC 39 on March 24, 2023 2. def. Melanie Shah at BKFC 51 on September 29, 2023 3. def. Taylor Starling at BKFC 63 on August 3, 2024 4. def. Tai Emery at BKFC 71 on April 4, 2025
The BKFC was involved in controversy after the death of boxer Justin Thornton on August 20, 2021, at BKFC 20.[179] Justin Thornton died as a result of spinal injury suffered during his BKFC debut.[180] Thornton had been on a five-fight losing streak ahead of the fight.
The matchmaking and regulations were criticized by UFC president Dana White, who said “...is anybody shocked? I mean, in bare-knuckle fighting? I’m not a big fan. ...We’ve been putting on fights for 25 years. I’ve done over 7,000 fights with no serious injuries in the UFC. That if they weren’t in the UFC, they probably would’ve fought and they probably would’ve died. So we shouldn’t even be talked about in the same sentence as bare-knuckle boxing."[181]
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