Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship United Kingdom

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship UK

Company type	Private
Industry	Bare-knuckle boxing promotion
Founded	September 2022
Founder	Andrew Bakewell
Headquarters	England, United Kingdom
Key people	Andrew Bakewell

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship United Kingdom (BKFC UK) is the British branch of the American bare-knuckle boxing promotion Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). In September 2022, it was announced that Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship had formed Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship UK (BKFC UK) by acquiring the UK-based Bare Fist Boxing Association (BFBA). ^[1] As of August 2024, BKFC UK has held 8 events, all of which have taken place in England.

History

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. ^[2]

Ring

BKFC UK hosts its matches in a distinctive circular four-rope ring, colloquially known as the "Squared Circle." The Squared Circle uniquely features two scratch lines, placed three feet apart at the center, a nod to the historic Broughton Rules (particularly the London Prize Ring Rules) that once governed 19th-century bare-knuckle fighting. A key rule mandates that fighters begin each round with their front foot on these scratch lines, a stance commonly referred to as "Toe the Line." This directive, coupled with the subsequent command "Knuckle Up," signals the start of each round. The ring’s design, including these traditional elements, not only pays homage to the sport's heritage but also significantly enhances its appeal within the realm of bare-knuckle boxing. ^[3]

First event

The inaugural BKFC UK event, BKFC Fight Night: Newcastle , was scheduled for 26 November 2022 in Newcastle upon Tyne. The main event featured a BKFC heavyweight title eliminator between Mick Terrill of Newcastle and Thailand-based American fighter Steve ‘Panda’ Banks. The card also showcased notable matches such as Darren Hendry vs Anthony Holmes and Danny Christie vs Darren Godfrey Jr. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} Melanie Shah also made history when she faced Sweden's Mathilda Wilson at the event by becoming both the first British female BKFC fighter and first female Muslim bare-knuckle boxer. ^{[8] [9] [10]}

Events

BKFC UK 1 - BKFC Fight Night: Newcastle

BKFC Fight Night: Newcastle
Information
Promotion	Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date	26 November 2022
Venue	Walker Activity Dome
City	Newcastle upon Tyne

BKFC Fight Night: Newcastle was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 26 November 2022 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Background

BKFC UK 1 took place on 26 November 2022 at The Walker Activity Dome in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, drawing a full house of 1,700 spectators. The event featured a 10-fight card, with the initial three bouts streamed live on YouTube and the subsequent main card bouts available on the BKFC App. In the main event, local contender Mick Terrill faced Steve 'Panda' Banks in a BKFC Heavyweight title eliminator. Terrill was declared the winner after Banks was deemed unable to continue by the ringside doctor due to severe cuts around his eyes. The co-main event featured Darren Hendry and Anthony Holmes vying for the inaugural BKFC UK Cruiserweight title. Holmes clinched the knockout victory in the fourth round following a powerful strike to Hendry's nose. The event was also notable for the debut of Melanie Shah, the UK's first female Muslim fighter, who secured a split decision win against Sweden's Mathilda Wilson. ^[11]

Results

BKFC Fight Night: Newcastle
Weight Class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Heavyweight 120 kg	Mick Terrill	def.	Steve Banks	TKO	2	2:00	BKFC Heavyweight title eliminator
Cruiserweight 93 kg	Anthony Holmes	def.	Darren Hendry	TKO	4	0:29	For the inaugural BKFC UK Cruiserweight Championship
Light heavyweight 84 kg	Danny Christie	def.	Darren Godfrey	TKO	1	1:07
Welterweight 75 kg	Liam Wilson	def.	Will Cairns	TKO	2	0:54
Light heavyweight 84 kg	John Ferguson	def.	Tom Scott	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00
Heavyweight 120 kg	Lee Browne	def.	Billy Hawthorne	TKO	2	0:35
Light heavyweight 84 kg	Nathan Owens	def.	David Round	Decision (unanimous)	3	1:05
Lightweight 70 kg	Lewis Keen	def.	Lewy Sherriff	TKO	3	1:08
Preliminary Card
W.Flyweight 57 kg	Melanie Shah	def.	Mathilda Wilson	Decision (split)	5	2:00
Heavyweight 120 kg	Agi Faulkner	def.	Daniel Robson	TKO	1	1:17

BKFC UK 2 - BKFC 37: Tierney vs. Lindsey

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 37: Tierney vs. Lindsey
Information
Promotion	Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date	4 March 2023
Venue	Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
City	London

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 37: Tierney vs. Lindsey was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 4 March 2023, at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London, England.

Background

The event was headlined by a bout between Connor Tierney and Jake Lindsey. ^[12]

Results

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 37: Tierney vs. Lindsey
Weight Class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Welterweight 75 kg	Jake Lindsey	def.	Connor Tierney	KO	5	1:02
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	Rico Franco	vs.	Darren Godfrey	KO	2	0:49
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	David Round	def.	Terry Brazier	KO	3	1:28
Cruiserweight 95 kg	Mason Shaw	def.	Lee Browne	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00
Cruiserweight 95 kg	Darren Hendry	def.	Corey Harrison	TKO	2	0:58
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	Chaz Wasserman	def.	Cedric Severac	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00
Heavyweight 120 kg	Robbie Kennedy	def.	Jack Draper	KO	2	1:35
Welterweight 75 kg	Nathan Hind	def.	Gary Fox	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00
Welterweight 75 kg	Ben Bonnar	def.	Jamie Oldfield	KO	3	1:16
Preliminary Card
Lightweight 70 kg	Ryan Carmichael	def.	Will Cairns	KO	3	0:35
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	Jimmy Millar	def.	Kyle Cassidy	TKO	2	2:00
Middleweight 79 kg	George Thorpe	def.	Jamie Hendry	TKO	3	0:54

BKFC UK 3 - BKFC 40: Holmes vs. Christie

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 40: Holmes vs. Christie
Information
Promotion	Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date	22 April 2023
Venue	Planet Ice Leeds
City	Leeds, England

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 40: Holmes vs. Christie was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 22 April 2023. ^[13]

Background

The event was initially scheduled to be headlined by welterweight bout between Elvin Brito and Jamie Cox, but the bout was cancelled after Cox withdrew.^{[ citation needed ]}

Results

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 40: Holmes vs. Christie
Weight Class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	Danny Christie	def.	Anthony Holmes	KO	4		For the BKFC UK Light Heavyweight Championship.
Welterweight 75 kg	Franco Tenaglia	def.	Luke Nevin	KO	4
Welterweight 75 kg	Rico Franco	def.	Axel Birbes	KO	2	1:07
Cruiserweight 95 kg	Conor Cooke	def.	Robbie Kennedy	KO	4	1:56
Middleweight 79 kg	Tom Scott	def.	Damian Górski	KO	4	1:44
Lightweight 70 kg	Jonny Graham	def.	Will Cairns	KO	1	1:33
Heavyweight 120 kg	Toni Estorer	def.	Lee Browne	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00
Catchweight 73 kg	Morgan Starkey	def.	Marius Radol	KO	1	0:23
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	Bart Król	def.	Ashley Griffiths	KO	1	1:04
Heavyweight 120 kg	Rob Cunningham	def.	Wain Morgan	KO	2	1:03
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	Arron Blakey	def.	Naff Higson	KO	1	0:50

BKFC UK 4 - BKFC 46: Newcastle

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 46: Newcastle
Information
Promotion	Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date	1 July 2023
Venue	Walker Activity Dome
City	Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 46: Newcastle was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 1 July 2023.

Results

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 46: Newcastle
Weight Class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Welterweight 75 kg	Ricardo Franco	def.	Kaleb Harris	KO	5	0:58
Welterweight 75 kg	Robert Barry	def.	Ben Bonner	KO	5	0:11
Welterweight 75 kg	Lewis Keen	def.	Zdeněk Pernica	KO	3	0:32
Cruiserweight 95 kg	Dawid Oskar	def.	Matty Hill	KO	1	1:44
Welterweight 75 kg	Paul Cook	def.	Aaron Foster	KO	1	0:41
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	Bart Król	def.	Sebastian Krautwald	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00
Featherweight 66 kg	Gary Fox	def.	Hayden Sherriff	KO	1	0:38
Featherweight 66 kg	Patryk Sagan	def.	Morgan Starkey	KO	1	0:49
Preliminary Card
Featherweight 66 kg	Robbie Brown	def.	Ben Hatchett	KO	1	1:36
Middleweight 79 kg	Arron Blakey	def.	Krystian Nadolski	KO	1	0:38
Cruiserweight 95 kg	Karl Thompson	def.	Dustin Rabiega	KO	1	1:06

BKFC UK 5 - BKFC 55: Leeds

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 55
Information
Promotion	Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date	19 November 2023
Venue	Planet Ice Leeds
City	Leeds, England

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 55: Leeds was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 19 November 2023.

Results

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 55
Weight Class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Light heavyweight 84 kg	Jared Warren	def.	Danny Christie	TKO (referee stoppage)	1	1:56
Middleweight 79 kg	Bartlomiej Krol	def.	Anthony Holmes	TKO (corner stoppage)	4	2:00
Cruiserweight 93 kg	Matty Hodgson	def.	Mason Shaw	TKO (punches)	2	0:29
Light heavyweight 84 kg	Danny Mitchell	def.	John Ferguson	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00
Cruiserweight 93 kg	Darren Hendry	def.	Luke Atkin	TKO (punches)	2	0:25
Featherweight 66 kg	Gary Fox	def.	Robbie Brown	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00
Light heavyweight 84 kg	Conor Cooke	def.	Nathan Owens	TKO (punches)	3	1:12
Cruiserweight 93 kg	Karl Thompson	def.	Dawid Oskar	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00
Lightweight 70 kg	Antonio Moscatiello	def.	Hynek Hospodarsky	KO	1	1:58
Preliminary Card
Welterweight 75 kg	Paul Cook	def.	Luke Nevin	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00
Welterweight 75 kg	Jonny Graham	def.	Abel Radomski	TKO (punches)	2	1:40
Heavyweight 120 kg	Agi Faulkner	def.	Rob Cunningham	TKO (punches)	1	0:57

BKFC UK 6 - BKFC 60: Milton Keynes

BKFC 60 Milton Keynes: Lilley vs. Tenaglia
Information
Promotion	Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date	6 April 2024
Venue	Planet Ice Arena Milton Keynes
City	Milton Keynes, England

BKFC 60 Milton Keynes: Lilley vs. Tenaglia was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 6 April 2024.

Background

The event featured three title fights and was headlined by James Lilley against Franco Tenaglia for the first ever BKFC Lightweight European Championship. BKFC UK Light Heavyweight Champion Danny Christie defended his title against David Round. Gary Fox faced Ellis Shephard for the vacant BKFC UK Featherweight Championship. ^[14]

Results

BKFC 60 Milton Keynes: Lilley vs. Tenaglia [15] [16]
Weight Class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Lightweight 70 kg	Franco Tenaglia	def.	James Lilley	Decision (majority)	5	2:00	For the inaugural BKFC European Lightweight Championship. Judges' scorecards not read.
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	Danny Christie (c)	def.	David Round	TKO	1	1:38	For the BKFC UK Light Heavyweight Championship.
Featherweight 66 kg	Ellis Shepherd	def.	Gary Fox	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00	For the vacant BKFC UK Featherweight Championship. 49-46, 49-46, 49-46.
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	Matty Hodgson	def.	Chaz Wasserman	KO	3	1:38
Bantamweight 61 kg	Jonno Chipchase	def.	Robbie Brown	TKO (doctor stoppage)	1	2:00
Cruiserweight 93 kg	Dawid Oskar	def.	Conor Cooke	KO	1	2:00
Cruiserweight 93 kg	Rob Boardman	def.	Danny McIntosh	KO (body shot)	1	1:13
Lightweight 70 kg	Ben Bonner	def.	Ray Putterill	KO (left hook)	1	1:08
Preliminary Card [17]
Middleweight 79 kg	Toby Bindon	def.	Marcus Pond	TKO	2	1:44
Heavyweight 120 kg	Jack Draper	def.	Bubu	TKO	1	1:41
Lightweight 70 kg	Bartek Kanabey	def.	Bakhtyor Kudratov	TKO (referee stoppage)	1	0:54

BKFC UK 7 - BKFC Fight Night Prospects: Newcastle

BKFC Fight Night Prospects: Newcastle
Information
Promotion	Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date	June 8, 2024
Venue	Walker Activity Dome
City	Newcastle upon Tyne, England

BKFC Fight Night Prospects: Newcastle is a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on June 8, 2024.

Background

The event was headlined by Paul Venis against former World Sambo Championships silver medalist Stanov Tabakov. ^{[18] [19]}

Results

BKFC Fight Night Prospects: Newcastle [20]
Weight Class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Cruiserweight 93 kg	Paul Venis	def.	Stanoy Tabakov	TKO	3	0:47
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	Pic Jardine	def.	Bartlomiej Krol	TKO	3	0:35
Middleweight 79 kg	Danny Christie	def.	Jimmy Millar	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00	50-44, 49-45, 49-44.
Light Heavyweight 84 kg	Danny Moir	def.	John Ferguson	Decision (split)	5	2:00	Judges' scorecards not read.
Lightweight 70 kg	Jack Culshaw	def.	Bartek Kanabey	TKO	3	1:35
Bantamweight 61 kg	Cameron Hardy	def.	Bryan Creighton	KO	5	0:43
Cruiserweight 93 kg	Stevie Taylor	def.	Jakub Kosicki	TKO	4	1:51
Bantamweight 61 kg	Bradley Taylor	def.	Dan Mohammed	TKO	1	0:43
Heavyweight 120 kg	Gary Slator	def.	Rob Cunningham	TKO (punches)	1	0:56
Welterweight 75 kg	Luke Beamish	def.	Will Rochester	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00	Judges' scorecards not read.
Welterweight 75 kg	Ryan Sanson	def.	Jeremy Waltron	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00	Judges' scorecards not read.

BKFC UK 8 - BKFC 64 Coventry: Tierney vs. Graham

BKFC 64 Coventry: Tierney vs. Graham
Information
Promotion	Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date	August 10, 2024
Venue	Coventry Skydome
City	Coventry, England

BKFC 64 Coventry: Tierney vs. Graham was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on August 10, 2024.

Background

The event was headlined by Conor Tierney against Jonny Graham for the inaugural UK BKFC Welterweight Championship. ^[21]

Results

BKFC 64 Coventry: Tierney vs. Graham [22]
Weight Class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Welterweight 75 kg	Connor Tierney	def.	Jonny Graham	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00	For the inaugural UK BKFC Welterweight Championship. 48-45, 48-46, 48-45.
Lightweight 70 kg	Jonno Chipchase	def.	Toby Bindon	TKO	1	1:58
Cruiserweight 93 kg	Conor Cooke	def.	Mason Shaw	KO	1	1:34
Cruiserweight 93 kg	Rob Boardman	def.	Lee Browne	TKO	4	0:47
Welterweight 75 kg	Luke Nevin	def.	Sahin Omer	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00	50-43, 50-43, 50-43.
Middleweight 79 kg	Mac Bygraves	def.	Paul O'Sullivan	Decision (split)	5	2:00	50-47, 50-46, 47-48.
Middleweight 79 kg	George Thorpe	def.	Conan Barbaru	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00	49-45, 50-45, 49-45.
Lightweight 70 kg	Ryan McCarthy	def.	Alec Connelly	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00	50-45, 50-46, 50-45.
Bantamweight 61 kg	Robbie Brown	def.	Jordan Ward	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00	50-46, 49-46, 48-47.
Preliminary Card
Bantamweight 61 kg	James Dixon	def.	Tom Mowbray	TKO	2	0:43
W. Bantamweight 61 kg	Sara Bitto	def.	Yamila Sanchez	Decision (unanimous)	5	2:00	49-45, 50-44, 49-45.
Middleweight 79 kg	Simeon Ottley	def.	Connor Warden	TKO	4	1:45

List of current champions

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship UK (BKFC UK)

Weight Class	Holder
BKFC UK
Cruiserweight / 205 lb (93 kg; 15 st)	Anthony Holmes
Light Heavyweight / 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st)	Danny Christie
Welterweight / 165 lb (75 kg; 12 st)	Connor Tierney
Featherweight / 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st)	Ellis Shepherd

See also

• Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
• Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand
• Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame
• BYB Extreme
• Chivarreto boxing
• Lethwei
• List of bare-knuckle lightweight champions
• London Prize Ring rules
• Russian boxing

References

1. "BKFC Acquires England's Bare Fist Boxing Association". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
2. "Report | Michael 'Venom' Page Set To Fight Mike Perry At BKFC 27". LowKickMMA. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
3. Bosco, Nicole (30 May 2018). "Everything you need to know about Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship" . Retrieved 11 November 2022.
4. "BoxRec: Event". boxrec.com. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
5. "Yorkshire Warrior Anthony Holmes ready for return to action after switching to BKFC promotion". www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
6. "New opponent for Carlisle bare-knuckle boxer". News and Star. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
7. "Carlisle bare-knuckle boxer's next fight revealed". News and Star. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
8. "Melanie set to become first female Muslim bare knuckle fighter".
9. "Asian Express Newspaper - VALIANT: UK's first female Muslim bare knuckle fighter makes winning debut". 12 December 2022.
10. Williams, Rebecca (24 August 2020). "Jawahir Roble: UK's first female Muslim official dreams of refereeing Premier League games". Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
11. "'BKFC Fight Night: Newcastle' results: Mick Terrill to challenge for heavyweight title after slicing Steven Banks". MMA Junkie. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
12. Parviz Iskenderov (5 January 2023). "Connor Tierney vs Jake Lindsey tops BKFC 37 in London on March 4". fightmag.com.au.
13. "BKFC LEEDS". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship .
14. "BKFC 60 MILTON KEYNES". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
15. Staff (6 April 2024). "BKFC 60: Lilley vs. Tenaglia Full Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
16. "BKFC-60 RESULTS: FRANCO TENAGLIA, DANNY CHRISTIE AND ELLIS SHEPHERD WIN BKFC TITLE FIGHTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM | BKFC". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
17. BKFC 60: MILTON KEYNES | Countdown Show and Free Prelims! . Retrieved 6 April 2024– via www.youtube.com.
18. "BKFC PROSPECTS NEWCASTLE". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
19. "BKFC Prospects Series: Newcastle UK". allevents.in. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
20. "BKFC Prospect Series: Newcastle Results | BKFC". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
21. "BKFC 64 COVENTRY". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
22. Staff (10 August 2024). "BKFC 64: Tierney vs. Graham Full Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 10 August 2024.