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Category: BKFC

Latest BKFC news. The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship league was founded in 2018 by former professional boxer David Feldman.

  • 5 Opponents We’d Love To See Conor McGregor Take On In BKFC

    5 Opponents We’d Love To See Conor McGregor Take On In BKFC

    Conor McGregor has been back in the headlines this week as he hosted his first press conference as part-owner of BKFC ahead of the company’s scheduled event in Marbella, Spain later this year.

    The former UFC two-weight world champion was scheduled to fight in the Octagon for the first time in three years at UFC 303 recently, but a foot injury put paid to those plans. Speaking at the BKFC press conference, the Irishman revealed that he only has two fights left on his current contract with the UFC and said that he has ambitions to test the waters inside the bareknuckle ring once those commitments are fulfilled.

    https://twitter.com/oocmma/status/1813909981617619434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1813909981617619434%7Ctwgr%5E380f2c6ad9498ce31896765c4cf645477719567e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs46397.p1736.sites.pressdns.com%2Fmma-news-today%2Fmma-news-today-conor-mcgregor-says-he-has-eyes-on-bkfc-move-magomed-ankalaev-neutralising-aggressive-francis-ngannou%2F

    With that in mind, let’s take a look at five intriguing options we would love to see “The Notorious” face in BKFC.

    Nate Diaz

    The rivalry between McGregor and Diaz has simply refused to go away ever since the pair first met inside the Octagon at UFC 196 back in 2016. Diaz took the fight on short notice as a replacement for McGregor’s original opponent Rafael Dos Anjos and shocked the world by handing the then-featherweight champion his first defeat in the UFC.

    https://youtu.be/G3ZsRG5gcNY?si=vAOP6EX4-yil60Ug

    McGregor won an immediate rematch via majority decision just five months later and it seemed it would only be a matter of time before the pair would square off again. The rubber match never came, however, and Diaz fought out his UFC contract, finishing up with a submission victory over Tony Ferguson in September of 2022.

    Since leaving the promotion, Diaz has pivoted to the world of boxing, where he has been defeated by Jake Paul and picked up a win over former UFC rival Jorge Masvidal, although he is now embroiled in a legal battle as he still hasn’t been paid for that fight.

    Should McGregor fight out his UFC contract and join Diaz as a free agent, it’s likely the pair would become the hottest ticket in combat sports.

    Mike Perry

    The current BKFC middleweight champion and the face of the promotion. Perry’s career since leaving the UFC back in 2021 has gone from strength to strength, as he has won all five of his fights inside the squared circle and become the biggest name in the world of bareknuckle fighting.

    Image: Mike Perry IG

    “Platinum” has taken out a list of former UFC fighters under the BKFC banner such as Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez and Thiago Alves. He has become the highest paid fighter in the promotion and will fight Jake Paul in a lucrative crossover boxing bout this Saturday night in Tampa, Florida.

    Although he failed to enter the title picture during his career inside the Octagon, Perry is now regarded as one of the biggest draws in combat sports outside the UFC.

    Jorge Masvidal

    “Gamebred” was a mainstay in the UFC’s lightweight and welterweight divisions between 2013-2023. He twice fought for the 170lb title against Kamaru Usman but was unsuccessful both times. After leaving the UFC (and temporarily retiring) in 2023 he recently made his first foray into the world of boxing when he faced Nate Diaz.

    Although the event was a commercial failure and Masvidal lost a close decision to Diaz, he is rumoured to be planning to pursue some more fights inside the ring going forward. McGregor also revealed on social media that he won $1.625 million after placing a bet on Diaz to beat Masvidal.

    Paulie Malignaggi

    This one could be considered a long shot, but “Magic Man” and “The Notorious” certainly shared one of the most interesting beefs in the recent history of combat sports.

    McGregor invited the former IBF and WBA welterweight boxing champion into his camp as a sparring partner in the lead up to his infamous boxing match against Floyd “Money” Mayweather back in 2017. After sharing multiple clips of McGregor knocking down Malignaggi during the workouts all over social media, tensions between the pair spiralled and rumors circulated that they would meet in a boxing match further down the line.

    Image: Paulie Malignaggi IG

    Although that fight never happened, Malignaggi did face McGregor’s former training partner and close friend Artem Lobov in a bareknuckle fight back in 2019 at BKFC 6, surprisingly losing by unanimous decision to the former UFC featherweight.

    Malignaggi has carved out a career as a boxing commentator and analyst and has worked on BKFC events since his retirement from fighting. At 42-years-old, could we see him tempted into one more fight with his old rival?

    Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Could it be? Could the stars possibly be aligning for one of the most heated rivalries in the history of the UFC to be rekindled?

    After Nurmagomedov conclusively beat “The Notorious” at UFC 229 back in 2018 to claim the UFC lightweight championship, the Irishman campaigned tirelessly for a rematch. His disappointment at Khabib announcing his retirement just two years later was captured on camera during the filming of his documentary McGregor Forever, and the Dubliner has never missed an opportunity to berate Nurmagomedov when given the chance in the years that have passed.

    Now that Khabib has seemingly fallen upon hard times and into some hot water with the Russian tax authorities, could we see him backed into a corner and forced into accepting a big-money payday to face his old rival once again?

    Read More: VIDEO: Jake Paul & Mike Perry Complete Open Workouts Ahead Of Boxing Match

  • Conor McGregor Reveals Former UFC Flyweight Got Him Interested In BKFC: ‘Just Watch One Fight & You’ll Be Hooked!’

    Conor McGregor Reveals Former UFC Flyweight Got Him Interested In BKFC: ‘Just Watch One Fight & You’ll Be Hooked!’

    During Conor McGregor’s first press conference as a part owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, he spoke about how he first got interested in the promotion.

    For many, BKFC will come with a big barrier to entry because of the raw and brutal nature of the sport once the gloves are off.

    Others will see this as a draw because by taking away the gloves, you’re one step closer to it being a true fight between two athletes rather than a sporting contest.

    It was very much love at first sight for McGregor, who has always been passionate about boxing and supporting his fellow fighters.

    His route into the sport and BKFC specifically came though a former member of the UFC roster.

    Conor McGregor Says Former UFC Fighter Bec Rawlings Was His Introduction To BKFC

    The success of BKFC owes a lot to former UFC fighters making the jump over and bringing some added attention and eyeballs with them.

    Australia’s Bec Rawlings competed seven times in the Octagon before she was released by the promotion, which led to her finding her way to BKFC as one of the first fighters to make this switch.

    “Rowdy” competed at the promotion’s very first event back in June of 2018 where she became the inaugural women’s featherweight champion.

    After a brief stint in Bellator, she returned to BKFC in 2022 and last fought under their banner in December of last year.

    McGregor spoke at a press conference for BKFC’s upcoming event in Spain about his initial experience with watching the promotion and how Rawlings was the first domino that set this path in motion.

    “Just watch one fight and you’ll be hooked, like me. Now I started this, I watched a lady I know through the UFC named ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings and she was a female world champion in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. I was just taken back by what the sport was, what it was about.

    “Any real fighter, any real true fighter, inside of them knows that to have a bare knuckle fighting world championship is a real feather in the cap and then once I came down live to see an event, I was blown away by it.”

    Read also: VIDEO: Jake Paul & Mike Perry Complete Open Workouts Ahead Of Boxing Match

  • Conor McGregor Feels A BKFC Fighter Commands Respect From All Other Combat Sports: ‘Not One Bad Word About A Bare-Knuckler…’

    Conor McGregor Feels A BKFC Fighter Commands Respect From All Other Combat Sports: ‘Not One Bad Word About A Bare-Knuckler…’

    Conor McGregor was drawn to bare knuckle because of how intense and raw the sport is by taking away the gloves.

    His decision to become a part owner in BKFC obviously comes from a business stand point where he knows he can add major value to this promotion on the rise.

    At the same time, it’s clearly something that “The Notorious” is very passionate about because of the mindset of the fighters that step into such an unforgiving arena.

    He believes that the sport of bare knuckle has one thing over any other combat sport and that’s the respect for the athletes.

    Conor McGregor Says Competing In Bare Knuckle Comes With A Certain Amount Of Respect

    Ask any boxer about whether they want to compete in MMA and you’re sure to get an answer along the lines of not wanting to spend time training their grappling skills.

    However, ask most boxers or MMA fighters about competing in bare knuckle and the issue isn’t that it’s a new skillset for them to learn, it’s that it’s too damaging.

    McGregor believes that this puts the athletes in BKFC on a pedestal in combat sports which makes them a small minority in an already very unique profession.

    “The Notorious” spoke at his first press conference for the promotion where he used Mike Perry as a reference for how fighters can come and reinvent themselves in the promotion.

    He believes that competing in this sport comes with a certain amount of respect in the combat sports world because frankly, most wouldn’t sign on the dotted line.

    “Make a new name for yourself. Look at what has happened to Michael Perry, one of our big stars here, the ‘King of Violence’ he titles himself. He’s had such a rise in the sport, now he’s up against a little dweeb of a thing in a fight this weekend that we’re all rooting for him.

    “This is the real deal. No one in this combat sports space can speak one bad word about a bare knuckle fighting world champion and that for me, is money in the bank.”

    Read also: VIDEO: Jake Paul & Mike Perry Complete Open Workouts Ahead Of Boxing Match

  • VIDEO: Imitator Makes Conor McGregor Crack Up With Question About Fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov In BKFC

    VIDEO: Imitator Makes Conor McGregor Crack Up With Question About Fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov In BKFC

    Conor McGregor’s first question that he faced at his very first press conference for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship was seemingly asked by himself.

    “The Notorious” was in attendance at his debut media event since becoming a part owner of the promotion in April as they promoted BKFC heading to Spain on October 12.

    The first question that came his way was delivered via an impression of “The Mac” himself as McGregor was asked whether he thinks his former UFC rival Khabib Nurmagomedov could ever make some quick money by competing in BKFC if needed.

    “There is a well known rat, who owes his b******* off to the Russian government. You know, would you get that man to BKFC if that man needed a dollar or two, you know. He clearly needs the money to pay back the Russian government, the man is a fool of a thing. With bare knuckle, a man versus a man, let it all end there in the coliseum, the Conor-seum. Let’s make it happen, that little scurrying rat.”

    McGregor, who laughed throughout, responded with one of his most iconic press conference lines.

    “It sounds like I’m talking, who the f*** is that? Who the f*** is that guy?”

    Conor McGregor Slams Khabib Nurmagomedov Over Financial Reports

    After taking a moment to laugh about the impression, McGregor did answer the question to some degree about the former UFC lightweight champion who has recently been in the news over financial issues with the Russian government.

    “The Notorious” spoke about how Nurmagomedov walked away from MMA, let alone stepping into bare knuckle which, as McGregor said himself, requires a certain type of person and mindset.

    “The guy won’t even fight, come on. The one thing that really attracts me to this game is these are bad men and women here in this f****** company, for real, these are bad men and women. You’ve got to be, you’re all talking about cutting each other up. A jab splits the skin in this game so the stakes are on another level, the intensity is on another level and again, it’s what drew me to this.

    “The Russian who, he’s not even a Russian, he doesn’t represent Russia. He owes his b*******, he’s gone running. I’d love to fight one of these m************ in bare knuckle but they won’t fight so.”

    McGregor did say during the press conference that with two fights left on his UFC contract, competing in BKFC at a later date is something that he is interested in.

  • Rachael Ostovich Signs New Multi-Fight Deal With BKFC

    Rachael Ostovich will be competing in BKFC again.

    Ostovich made her BKFC debut in July of 2021 and beat Paige VanZant at KnuckleMania 1. It served as a rematch, as the two fought in the UFC which VanZant won by submission in January of 2019.

    Since the fight against VanZant, there has been no word about Ostovich’s fighting future. However, according to MMAJunkie’s Danny Segura, Ostovich has signed a new multi-fight deal with BKFC which means she will have her second fight soon.

    After her BKFC debut against VanZant, Ostovich said she enjoyed it but she wasn’t certain if she would compete again in the sport. Well, seven months later, she has decided she wants to fight again.

    “Bare-knuckle, totally different sport. Honestly, when you get in there, it’s fun,” Ostovich said at the post-fight press conference. “I was having fun. I was talking. I was bout it. I was down. It was great. It’s definitely up to my manager. I can say yeah [I’ll fight bare-knuckle again] all I want up there but when it comes down to it, it’s got to be on the paper and I’m sure they’ll have a good talk after this.”

    Rachael Ostovich is 1-0 in BKFC and 4-6 in MMA. The Hawaiian was released from the promotion after losing three straight as she was submitted by Montana De La Rosa, VanZant and in her last MMA fight, suffered a TKO loss to Gina Mazany. She went 1-3 in the UFC with her lone victory coming over Karine Gevorgyan.

    At this time, it’s uncertain when and who Ostovich will face in her BKFC return. She could very well earn a title fight or perhaps have a trilogy with VanZant as “12 Gauge” is also returning soon and they are 1-1 against one another in combat sports. Regardless, Ostovich will be back, which is good news for BKFC.

    Who would you like to see Rachael Ostovich fight in her BKFC return?

  • Thiago Alves Shares Mike Perry’s Interest In BKFC Showdown

    Thiago Alves is looking for the biggest fight possible.

    Thiago Alves has been a professional fighter since 2001. He has been involved in some very exciting matchups over the years. Now that he has 38 professional MMA fights and two bare-knuckle fights on his résumé, he isn’t looking to slow down. In fact, Alves is looking for the biggest fight he can get. Right now, that might be a bout with Mike Perry.

    Alves spent fourteen years in the UFC. Following his release, Alves decided to sign a contract with BKFC. He has found success in BKFC and is now the middleweight champion. Bare-knuckle fighting has found its niche in combat sports and now has a real following.

    More former UFC fighters are heading that way, and maybe the most popular among them is Mike Perry. Perry just had his first fight with BKFC and Alves was watching.

    “He looked good. He’s not going to look that good against me though,” Alves told TMZ Sports via MiddleEasy. “I hope we can make this fight happen. It was supposed to happen in 2017. I’m looking forward to that knuckling up.”

    Alves is looking to take on Perry in his next fight. Perry was also interested in this matchup as well, so the odds of it happening seem pretty good. Alves believes that this could be the biggest fight in BKFC yet.

    “Without a doubt [it will be the biggest fight ever]. Mike Perry is like the new generation, you know, he has a lot of hype behind him. Didn’t do as much as I’ve done in the sport, you know, I’ve been a lot longer than he has, but as right now, I don’t see any bigger fight in the making for the organization,” Alves said. “So, Dave Feldman, let’s make it happen!”

    Perry got himself back in the win column with his BKFC win over former UFC fighter Julian Lane. Perry’s appearance in BKFC is a sort of reawakening for his career that didn’t end too well with the UFC. If this is the biggest fight to make going forward, it should be something on the horizon in 2022.

    Would you want to see this potential matchup between Thiago Alves and Mike Perry?

  • Triller Purchases Majority Stake In Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

    Bare Knuckle FC President David Feldman has announced that Triller has purchased a majority stake in his promotion.

    Feldman announced the news during a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour (h/t MMA Fighting).

    “We grew this thing to a point where we thought that we got it as far as we could take it by ourselves right now,” Feldman said of BKFC. “We’ve overcome so many obstacles and so many people telling us no and, ‘this will never happen, you’ll never make it work.’ And we got to a point where we’re pretty well accepted among the combat sports community right now, and we needed to make a partnership that was going to take us to the next level, create more opportunities, more resources, more funding, more things like that to acquire some more fighters, take care of the fighters that are already there, and just create more opportunities for everybody.

    “So we have entered into an agreement to have the majority stake of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship be acquired by Triller Verzuz. So Triller will acquire the majority stake in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, like I said, to allow more opportunities, more resources, more funding, just everything that we really need to vie for that No. 1, No. 2 spot in combat sports.”

    BKFC has most recently hosted their KnuckleMania 2 event, featuring a matchup between former UFC fighter Mike Perry and former The Ultimate Fighter standout Julian Lane. Other former UFC fighters such as Paige VanZant and Chad Mendes have also signed with the promotion.

    Triller expanded into fight promotion back in 2020, with their first event featuring a boxing exhibition between legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. Former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tito Ortiz have also competed for Triller in recent months.

    What is your reaction to the BKFC-Triller ownership merge?

  • Mike Perry: A Loss To Julian Lane “Would Have Been It For Me”

    Mike Perry is relieved he won his BKFC fight against Julian Lane.

    Mike Perry just had his first bare-knuckle fight this past weekend, and he is happy he won, or else it could have been his last. Perry beat former UFC fighter Julian Lane in the main event of BKFC Knucklemania 2. This bare-knuckle venture for Perry was not supposed to be an “end of the road” type situation, but Perry explains how it could have turned out that way.

    “He brought it as far as talkin’ trash, being there in the fight even after I hurt him—he tried,” Perry told MMA Fighting. “He brought it, he wanted to win, and I didn’t let him. And had it gone the other way, that would have been it for me. Like, you can’t lose to that guy, close or not. That’s the pressure that was on me.”

    BKFC result: Mike Perry out-slugs Julian Lane, wins unanimous decision
    Mike Perry vs. Julian Lane at BKFC Knucklemania 2

    This BKFC fight came after Perry fought out his UFC contract. During his time with the UFC, he went 7-8. The last few years were particularly bad, with Perry losing seven of his last ten fights. His release may have come much sooner had he not been such a colorful character. Perry’s attitude and antics outside the cage make him a draw and fans typically either love him or hate him.

    Perry has also been in hot water with the law several times over the last few years. After his UFC departure, this opportunity at BKFC could have served as a new beginning. Now that he has won the fight bout via unanimous decision, there are plenty of opportunities for him in this promotion, if he chooses to stay. Bare-knuckle boxing has become very popular over the last year or so and having a character like Perry headlining cards is sure to make people want to tune in.

    Perry is fitting the part with his ongoing unpredictable behavior. He even showed up to the pre-fight press conference with a baseball bat! “Platinum Mike” is certainly playing the part perfectly and maybe could find his way back to MMA soon.

    Do you think Mike Perry would have quit fighting with a loss at BKFC to Julian Lane?

  • BKFC President Provides Update On Paige VanZant’s Return Date

    BKFC President David Feldman assures fans that Paige VanZant will return to the promotion before the end of summer.

    Although coming off back-to-back losses, VanZant will try to make a comeback in the BKFC ring.

    She suffered her second loss in the promotion to fellow former UFC flyweight Rachel Ostovich. This would serve as a rematch to the win VanZant gained over Ostovich back in early 2019.

    But VanZant did not hide away in a corner after experiencing the losses. In fact, she stays busy in the realm of combat sports.

    Outside of her OnlyFans page, she has appeared on All Elite Wrestling, causing chaos with pro wrestler Brandi Rhodes.

    Paige VanZant
    Paige VanZant, Photo Credit: AEW

    And, according to Feldman, fans will see a better version of VanZant fairly soon. The BKFC president has high regard for the young fighter and is excited to see her pull through in the promotion. (h/t Essentially Sports)

    ”She will definitely be back in spring or early summer. A 100% Paige will be back. We have some really good things planned for her. The thing about Paige VanZant is she could not win either of her fights. She came to fight and fought her ass off both times. She did really really well, never took a backward step and you know it’s a different sport. Like I keep saying it and she is learning it, so for her to wanna fight again in bare-knuckle. After taking two losses, you gotta take your hat off to her. You really do, I do, and looking forward to seeing her comeback,” Feldman told MMA Junkie.

    There is no clear opponent for VanZant as of yet, but later this year, she will have the opportunity to get into the winner’s circle.

    Hopefully for VanZant, she can join the other former UFC fighters Mike Perry and Chad Mendes, who both picked up BKFC wins last Saturday.

    Do you anticipate Paige VanZant’s return to the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship?

  • BKFC Knucklemania 2 Results & Highlights: Perry & Mendes Both Win

    BKFC Knucklemania 2 took place tonight, and the card featured four premier bouts on the lineup.

    First, we saw Mike Perry make his BKFC debut against Julian “Let Me Bang, Bro” Lane. The two were involved in a confrontation during a BKFC event last December and fired barbs at one another prior to that incident.

    The card also featured former UFC veteran Chad Mendes making his boxing debut against Joshuah Alvarez, who came into the bout at 1-1. Additionally, Britain Beltran, who holds a BKFC victory over Paige VanZant, took on Christine Ferea for the inaugural women’s flyweight championship. And of course, there was the lightweight championship bout between champion Luis Palomino and challenger Martin Brown.

    The event was available on the Bare Knuckle TV app with a $4.99 monthly subscription. You can catch the highlights from Mike Perry’s and Chad Mendes’ victories below followed by the quick results!

    Chad Mendes def. Joshuah Alvarez

    Mike Perry def. Julian Lane

    https://twitter.com/FiteTV/status/1495242084701425666
    https://twitter.com/FiteTV/status/1495244601137012745

    BKFC Knucklemania 2 Quick Results

    • Luis Palomino def. Martin Brown via unanimous decision (49-46×2, 50-45) 
    • Mike Perry def. Julian Lane via unanimous decision (48-46×3)
    • Chad Mendes def. Joshuah Alvarez via TKO (punches): R4, 1:34
    • Christine Ferea def. Britain Hart via unanimous decision (48-47×2, 49-46) to become inaugural women’s flyweight champion.
    • Gustavo Trujillo def. Stephen Townsel via knockout: R1, 1:41
    • Christine Vicens def. Jade Masson-Wong via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R3, 0:49
    • Francesco Ricchi def. Jake Bostwich via unanimous decision (48-44×3)
    • Ulysses Diaz def. Sawyer Depee via knockout: R2, 1:00
    • Edgard Plazaola def. Chevvy Bridges via TKO (punches): R3, 1:09
    • Yosdenis Cedeno def. Mario Vargas via unanimous decision (48-45, 49-44, 47-46)
    • Jomi Escoboza def. Zion Tomlinson via knockout: R4, 1:16

  • Chad Mendes Says BKFC Debut Will Out-Pay Ngannou’s UFC 270 Purse

    Former UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes is getting paid big money for his bare-knuckle boxing debut.

    Mendes is slated to return to combat sports after a lengthy hiatus. He’ll fight Joshuah Alvarez at BKFC’s upcoming Knucklemania II event on Feb. 19.

    Mendes hasn’t fought since his UFC finale against Alexander Volkanovski in 2018. After falling to Conor McGregor for the interim featherweight title at UFC 189, he would go on to lose two of his next three against Volkanovski and Frankie Edgar.

    Mendes excited his fans when he announced his return to fighting during a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. During an interview with MMA Junkie, he admitted that BKFC is giving him a big paycheck for his return, and he’s slated to make more than UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou did at UFC 270.

    “I’ll put it this way: I just saw what the UFC heavyweight champion of the world just got paid, and it’s gonna be more than that,” Mendes said. “It’s pretty crazy. I feel blessed for sure.”

    Mendes, one of the biggest standouts from the famous Team Alpha Male gym under Urijah Faber, had a very memorable run in the UFC’s featherweight division. He earned wins over the likes of Ricardo Lamas, Myles Jury, and Clay Guida during his time in the Octagon.

    While Mendes never earned a UFC featherweight title, he fought in an epic battle against José Aldo at UFC 179 in which some believed he was robbed of the decision. He would go on to get knocked out by McGregor in his last shot at a title a couple of fights later.

    McGregor's winning streak continues as he defeats Mendes

    Ngannou has been outspoken about how he feels he’s been treated by the UFC brass over the past few years. Ngannou wants flexibility with the UFC to pursue potential boxing fights with the likes of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and others, along with better pay.

    If Mendes’ claims about his upcoming paycheck are true, it certainly puts gas on the fire concerning Ngannou’s stance regarding fighter treatment in the UFC.

    What are your thoughts on Chad Mendes’ claim?

  • Former WWE Superstar Jack Claffey Signs With BKFC

    The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship announced Jack Claffey’s signing on their Facebook page Tuesday.

    Jack Claffey, formerly Jack Gallagher of the WWE, will debut in the BKFC in 2022. His release from the WWE followed sexual assault allegations in 2020. Claffey issued a statement where he took responsibility for drinking heavily and behaving inappropriately with a young woman at a 2014 New Year’s Eve party.

    Mid-year will mark the lightweight’s first professional venture outside of the WWE.

    The ex-professional wrestler adds to the list of fighters recently signed to the promotion such as UFC Veteran Mike Perry and former UFC featherweight title contender Chad Mendes.

    The “Captain” also falls in line with a number of other WWE wrestlers that either left to join another promotion or participate simultaneously. Brock Lesnar and CM Punk have records in the UFC, and Bobby Lashley fought under Bellator and various other MMA promotions.

    Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, CM Punk
    Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, CM Punk; Photo Credit: Getty Images

    Impressively, the England-born fighter won both of his amateur bouts by submission—one by armbar and one by guillotine choke.

    Fans of Jack “Captain” Claffey have not seen him in action since his loss to Jake Atlas during a live WWE event in June 2020, and are surely anticipating his debut in the bloody combat sport.

    Are you excited to see Jack Claffey’s BKFC debut?

  • Paige VanZant Made A Sex Tape With Austin Vanderford

    Paige VanZant revealed some intimate information during a recent Q&A session with her fans, announcing that she’s made a sex tape with husband Austin Vanderford.

    Paige VanZant is one of the most recognized MMA stars in the world. Part of that is because of how much of herself she has exposed to the world: her creative side as a guest chef on Food Network’s Chopped, her artistic side as a performer on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, and even her scholarly and personal side in penning her biography Rise: Surviving the Fight of My Life.

    VanZant has also become known for posting risque photos of herself on social media. In addition to her own collection, she also posed in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in 2019.

    Recently, however, it was revealed that there is some X-rated material of VanZant that, at least for the time being, are for two people’s eyes only. When asked if herself and husband Austin Vanderford would ever make a sex tape, the former UFC star dropped a bombshell.

    “Would I? We definitely already have. Would I ever share it, sell it, promote it? Hmm, that’s a different story,” VanZant said.

    As VanZant fans keep their fingers crossed in eager anticipation, “12 Gauge” will be preparing for another go in the BKFC sometime in the spring if all goes according to plan. She is currently 0-2 in the promotion after dropping fights to Britain Hart and fellow UFC alum Rachel Ostovich.

    As for hubby Austin Vanderford, he is currently scheduled to challenge Gegard Mousasi for the Bellator middleweight championship on February 25.

    What is your reaction to learning that a Paige VanZant sex tape exists out in the world?

  • Lobov Reveals The Two Things That Would Bring Him Out Of Retirement

    Former UFC featherweight and Bare Knuckle FC star Artem Lobov has admitted there are two scenarios that could draw him out of retirement.

    Over the course of his 11-year career in professional combat sports, Lobov became one of the most popular and recognizable names. Whether through his fighting style, appearance on The Ultimate Fighter, or connection to Conor McGregor and the SBC Ireland team, every fan knows “The Russian Hammer.”

    After leaving mixed martial arts with a 13-15-1 record, a résumé that includes two UFC victories, following his defeat to Michael Johnson in 2018, Lobov turned his attention to bare-knuckle boxing.

    After signing a lucrative deal with BKFC, the Russian star won his opening two bouts with the promotion, first against Jason Knight and then against legendary former boxing champion Pauli Malignaggi just two months later.

    But after back-to-back losses to Knight and Denys Berinchyk, the latter of which took place under the promotional banner of Mahatch FC, Lobov took a realistic look at his career, aspirations, and responsibilities. He decided to call time on his career last July, a week after his final appearance in combat sports.

    Lobov Admits Path Back To Action Exists

    After the announcement, many in the community reflected on Lobov’s memorable career as they bid farewell to a combat sports mainstay. While the 35-year-old doesn’t see himself breaking his promise to himself and darting in and out of retirement, he has provided some hope for fans who wish to see him back in action.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Lobov laid out two scenarios that would clench his fists and bring him back to the cage or ring. As unlikely as they seem, the answer will certainly instil some hope into the hearts of his loyal fanbase.

    “I gave myself a promise, ‘Artem, you will not go back in there, no matter what. Fucking make it elsewhere now, it doesn’t matter what happens, it doesn’t matter how much you want to go back in there. Do not go back in there.’

    “There’s only two ways that I go back to fighting; the (Zubaira) Tukhugov fight, that goes without retirement, I don’t care If I am retired or not, I always want that fight, no matter what,” Lobov continued. “And, if somebody wants to make my dreams come true and offer me seven figures, well then it’s going to change things up… seven figures could allow you to set up your financial future for the family, and that’s a big thing for me, of course. And open up a lot of doors as well. I would consider coming back for those reasons.”

    Lobov and Tukhugov were set to collide back at UFC Fight Night 138 in October 2018. The clash would have extended the fiery rivalry between Khabib Nurmagoemdov’s camp and that of Conor McGregor.

    However, two weeks prior at UFC 229, the groups were engaged in a post-fight brawl following Khabib’s submission victory over “The Notorious” Irishman. Heavily involved, and even throwing punches at McGregor, was Tukhugov. The Dagestani was removed from his fight with Lobov, who went on to face Johnson instead.

    Given the feud the two sides shared a number of years ago, it’s unsurprising Lobov would still be willing to exact some revenge for his former teammate by entering the cage with Tukhugov.

    As for the other return scenario, money is money, who could blame him?

    Would you like to see Artem Lobov fight again?

  • Paige VanZant Targeting Spring Return To BKFC

    Former UFC fighter Paige VanZant isn’t giving up on her Bare Knuckle FC ambitions, as she plans a return to the ring later this year.

    After an up-and-down tenure in the UFC, VanZant became a free agent and opted to sign with BKFC. She ended up dropping her first two fights with the promotion against Britain Hart and Rachael Ostovich via unanimous decisions.

    Despite her recent struggles, VanZant remains a big name in the promotion and is still relatively young in her career at 27. During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, BKFC President Dave Feldman alluded to preliminary plans for VanZant’s return to bare-knuckle.

    “She’s going to be fighting again,” Feldman said. “We were thinking about throwing her on the KnuckleMania card, too. I thought it was too much and we needed to just spread it out a little. I don’t have an exact date but I’d love to get her back in April. It would be great to get her back and there’s a lot of talent out there that would be good opponents for her, April-May-ish.”

    Paige VanZant PVZ
    Photo via Instagram @barekuncklefc

    VanZant had hinted at a possible move to Bellator as her BKFC contract nears an end and also detailed some of her struggles away from competition. VanZant has a large following on a variety of social media platforms, and the pressure to perform may have been a bit overwhelming for her in recent fights.

    Coincidentally, VanZant hasn’t won in any combat sport since defeating Ostovich in the UFC Octagon in 2019. Before that, she had lost fights to the likes of Jessica-Rose Clark, Michelle Waterson, and Rose Namajunas.

    VanZant is looking to get back on track in her professional fighting career and more than likely needs to get back in the win column in her next appearance to do so.

    Do you think Paige VanZant has championship potential in BKFC?

  • Mike Perry & Julian Lane To Settle Beef In The Ring On Feb. 19

    Mike Perry and Julian Lane will be settling their beef at the February 19 Knucklemania event in Hollywood, Florida.

    Tuesday, MMA reporter Chris Taylor first broke the news of this upcoming scrap, and it has since been confirmed by multiple sources. This announcement comes after Lane was unwilling to take no for an answer after challenging Perry to a fight earlier this year.

    How This Odd Pairing Came Together

    In October, Mike Perry announced that he would be joining the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship ranks. Here’s some of what Perry had to say in the official press release that announced his arrival:

    “I will dismantle the opposition and reach the glory I have longed for my entire life. I will be crowned king of the streets and king of combat sports! They will make me a Platinum Crown and carry me on the bloody backs of my defeated rivals! I am here to go straight to the top and make anyone think twice about entering my world! BKFC is my world!”

    Within hours of this announcement, former Ultimate Fighter contest Julian Lane, aka the ‘Let me bang, bro’ guy of MMA lore, volunteered to be the first man to “oppose” Perry in the BKFC. Unfortunately, Lane’s desire to bang was rebuffed, just like long times.

    At BKFC Tampa last month, Perry made an appearance to do some commentary. However, he was being harassed by Lane, who was throwing material at Perry from the audience. This led to Perry exiting the commentating table to confront him.

    Here is a glimpse of what happened when the two came face to face.

    Now, we know that this brawl will spill into the ring next month.

    Lane is 3-4 in bare-knuckle boxing and had been booked against Kaleb Harris on January 29 prior to this switch-up. Meanwhile, Perry recently defeated experienced boxer Michael Seals at Triller’s Triad Combat in November.

    Do you have any interest in watching Mike Perry and Julian Lane fight in a bare-knuckle boxing match?

  • Graphic: Jordan Nash, BKFC Fighter, Suffers Nauseating Eye Injury

    It takes a unique type of human to be willing to fight in a cage, and BKFC fighter Jordan Nash further proved that at a recent event.

    Whenever fans watch a combat sports event, chances are you’ll see something that you haven’t seen before. Injuries happen in this brutal sport from time to time, but rarely to the level that Nash suffered against Noah Cutter at a recent BKFC Fight Night.

    Things were going well for Nash early in the fight before Cutter put on the pressure in the later rounds and turned his face into a bloody mess. On top of this, Nash suffered a gruesome eye injury that resulted in a hanging eyelid.

    Warning: This photo below is extremely graphic. View with caution.

    Jordan Nash’s Injury Showcases Bare Knuckle’s Brutality

    BKFC, and bare-knuckle boxing in general, has often been criticized by some of the most prominent personalities in combat sports. This includes UFC commentator Michael Bisping, who referred to it as a “backwards step” in combat sports.

    Nash came into the BKFC Fight Night event off of his first win since joining the promotion, as he earned a unanimous decision win over Brandon Allen earlier this year. Before that, he had briefly competed in Combat Night Pro, accumulating a 1-1 professional record in MMA.

    As of right now, there is no medical update on Nash as he continues to recover from the nasty injury.

    What is your reaction to Jordan Nash’s brutal eye injury?