BKFC News

Adam Martin - July 25, 2021

Former UFC fighter-turned-bare knuckle boxer Rachael Ostovich reacted after beating Paige VanZant at BKFC 19, saying “I had so much fun.” Ostovich was the betting underdog against VanZant but she pulled off the upset when she won a unanimous decision over her former UFC rival in what was Ostovich’s bare-knuckle boxing debut. Ostovich and VanZant previously fought in the Octagon at UFC on ESPN+1: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw in January 2019, with VanZant winning the fight by submission. With VanZant having already experienced a BKFC fight when she lost to Britain Hart earlier this year, the oddsmakers and the betting public felt that PVZ should be favored to beat Ostovich, but the Hawaiian proved the doubters wrong as she took home the decision.

Chris Taylor - July 24, 2021

Paige VanZant has addressed the haters following her unanimous decision loss to Rachael Ostovich at last night’s BKFC 19 event. VanZant and Ostovich collided for a second time on Friday evening, this after ‘PVZ’ had earned a submission victory in the pairs first encounter under the UFC banner in 2019.

Christopher Taylor - July 23, 2021

Paige VanZant has issued a statement following her loss to Rachael Ostovich in tonight’s BKFC 19 headliner. VanZant and Ostovich collide for a second time this evening, this after ‘PVZ’ had earned a submission victory in the pairs first encounter under the UFC banner in 2019.

Chris Taylor - July 23, 2021

Former UFC fighters Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich squared off for a second time in the headliner of tonight’s BKFC 19 event. VanZant had made her highly anticipated BKFC debut earlier this year when she took on Britain Hart. Unfortunately for ’12 Gauge’ she went on to lose that contest by way of unanimous decision.

Adam D Martin - July 23, 2021

BKFC president David Feldman confirmed that he recently turned down a lucrative offer to sell his bare-knuckle fighting promotion. Feldman is a former professional boxer himself (4-1 record) who started the bare-knuckle fighting championship (BKFC) promotion in 2018. Since starting the organization, BKFC has held 18 events and on Friday night it will hold its 19th event, with former UFC stars Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich in the headliner in a rematch. For Feldman, BKFC is certainly gaining a lot of momentum these days, so much so that other investors are looking to not only invest in the company but completely buy Feldman out and take over.

Adam D Martin - July 23, 2021

Former UFC women’s flyweight and current bare-knuckle fighter Paige VanZant promises fans they will see a “brand new fighter” at BKFC 19. VanZant takes on former MMA rival Rachael Ostovich in a rematch Friday night at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. The two women previously met in the UFC in January 2019, with VanZant winning the fight via submission. Now that the rematch will take place in BKFC, there will be no submission finish this time around as the fight will be taking place entirely on the feet and not on the ground. For VanZant, this will be her second BKFC contest, while for Ostovich this is the first time she has fought bare-knuckle.

Harry Kettle - July 22, 2021

Former UFC fighter Rachael Ostovich has explained her decision to take on former foe Paige VanZant in BKFC. While VanZant has already made an appearance in the promotion, Ostovich is set to step into the ring for the first time tomorrow night when she takes on PVZ in a rematch of their January 2019 bout in the UFC. It’ll mark the first combat appearance for Ostovich since losing to Gina Mazany back in November 2020, after which she was released from her UFC contract.

Adam D Martin - July 12, 2021

Sheena Brandenburg, who is an MMA fighter and who also competes for BKFC, was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in a deadly hit-and-run incident. In March, it was reported that Brandenburg was involved in a terrible incident that left 56-year-old Troy Lambert dead after she hit his motorcycle from behind and left him for dead. Police say that Brandenburg was at a local tavern before the deadly hit-and-run incident.

Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021

Women’s combat sports superstar Paige VanZant has no regrets about leaving the UFC for BKFC, calling it “the best decision I’ve ever made.” VanZant competed in MMA from 2012 to 2020, and between 2014 and 2020 she fought exclusively for the UFC, where she went 4-5 overall. After becoming a free agent last summer, VanZant decided to take her talents to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Although she lost a decision to Britain Hart in her BKFC debut, VanZant has already been booked for her next fight, a rematch with her former UFC opponent Rachael Ostovich.

Adam D Martin - June 27, 2021

BKFC champion Luis Palomino called for a rematch with UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal, saying “remember I beat you in 2010, eight pounds heavy.” Palomino defeated Tyler Goodjohn via unanimous decision at BKFC 18 on Saturday night. The 40-year-old Miami native is now a perfect 4-0 in BKFC and is currently the promotion’s lightweight champion. During his MMA career, Palomino has fought at featherweight, lightweight, and even welterweight. While he has been doing well fighting at lower weights in BKFC, Palomino is open to fighting up at welterweight again, and it’s because he is looking to get a rematch against one of the UFC’s top superstars in the form of Masvidal.

Adam D Martin - June 27, 2021

Former UFC fighter Hector Lombard gave Lorenzo Hunt a two-piece combo after defeating Joe Riggs at BKFC 18 for the middleweight title. Lombard and Riggs, two of the most recognizable MMA fighters in the world, took their talents to the BKFC ring on Saturday night as they squared off for the promotion’s middleweight title. The fight was competitive but ended in a bizarre fashion when Lombard pulled Riggs’ shorts and punched him in the eye, which led to Riggs not being able to see and therefore not able to continue, leading to Lombard being declared the winner via TKO.

Chris Taylor - June 26, 2021

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships returns to action this evening for BKFC 18, a ten-bout fight card headlined by Joey Beltran vs. Sam Shewmaker. The stacked lineup, which takes place from Seminole Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, features four title fights.

Andrew Whitelaw - June 24, 2021

Hector Lombard is a wild character and a hugely decorated fighter. He is a former Olympic judoka, a Pride and UFC veteran, and he was also the inaugural Bellator middleweight champion. Having dabbled in a multitude of martial arts, including kickboxing and Muay Thai, the Cuban-born brawler Lombard believes he’s found his favorite discipline in bare-knuckle boxing.

Cole Shelton - June 11, 2021

Brian Maxwell didn’t really believe he was fighting Chad Johnson until fight week came along. Maxwell, a combat sports veteran, was messaged out of the blue to box the NFL Pro Bowler of the Mayweather-Paul undercard. It was surreal for Maxwell, but he says even though it was a massive fight, he wasn’t nervous.

Cole Shelton - June 3, 2021

Brian Maxwell never thought he would ever be boxing on a Floyd Mayweather undercard, or boxing former NFL star, Chad Johnson. On Sunday in Miami, Maxwell will have an exhibition boxing match against six-time NFL Pro Bowler in Chad Johnson aka Chad Ochocinco. The retired NFL star is now 43-years-old but has been training boxing for years and will finally take a fight and Maxwell never thought he would be his opponent.

Adam D Martin - May 28, 2021

Women’s bare-knuckle fighters Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich reacted after their rematch was officially booked in BKFC. BKFC announced this week that the VanZant vs. Ostovich rematch will take place on July 23 at BKFC 19. It’s a rematch of the pair’s fight at UFC on ESPN+ 1 in January 2019, which VanZant won via second-round tapout. This time around, the two will meet in the BKFC ring with no grappling involved. It’s a striking-only fight and considering the popularity of both women, it figures to be one of the biggest fights that BKFC will hold this summer.

Harry Kettle - May 21, 2021

Former UFC star Alan Belcher has officially ended his retirement from combat sports and signed a multi-fight deal with BKFC. Belcher last fought in mixed martial arts way back in 2013, losing to Michael Bisping via technical decision at UFC 159. He then went more than two years without competing before finally announcing in November 2015 that he’d be stepping away from the cage.

Drake Riggs - May 18, 2021

Paige VanZant has officially transitioned from MMA to bare-knuckle boxing. An unexpected sight for many, her husband, Austin Vanderford, also found it a bit tough to see. Regardless, the rising Bellator middleweight contender still fully supported, and supports, his partner in crime.