BKFC News

Tom Taylor - September 24, 2019

Earlier this year, arch enemies Artem Lobov and Paulie Malignaggi stepped through the ropes to battle in a bare knuckle boxing match. In the end, the mixed martial arts veteran Lobov won this fight by decision, although the former boxing champ Malignaggi — and a good portion of viewers — felt the judges got it wrong. Given the controversy surrounding this fight, and the lingering beef between the two stars, Lobov says he’s willing to rematch Malignaggi in the boxing ring. The Russian-born Irishman suggested the fight could occur on the undercard of the upcoming rematch between YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI, which will air on DAZN on November 9.

Chris Taylor - August 31, 2019

Move over Paige VanZant, there is a new mixed martial arts fighter taking the dance world by storm and his name is Artem Lobov. Yes your read that correctly, ‘The Russian Hammer’ recently showed off his fancy footwork during a friends wedding in Italy.

Thomas Taylor - August 28, 2019

A pair of UFC veterans will headline the upcoming BKFC 8 card, as former title challengers Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and Gabriel Gonzaga are set to collide. The promotion announced this exciting news on social media on Wednesday afternoon.

Cole Shelton - August 21, 2019

Artem Lobov and Jason Knight want to run it back. The two first fought at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 5. There, the two traded shots and put on an amazing scrap that captured the eyes of the combat sports world.

Adam D Martin - August 11, 2019

There was a brutal face plant knockout at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 7 on Saturday, and the fighter on the receiving end of the knockout has decided to retire. Kaleb Harris landed a devastating straight right directly on the chin of Johnavan Vistante, who was immediately knocked out cold, face planting on his way to the canvas.

Tom Taylor - August 6, 2019

Isaac Vallie-Flagg knows Melvin Guillard very well. The two UFC veterans previously trained together at JacksonWink MMA in Albuquerque, and even lived together for a brief period. But now, they’re poised to pummel each other, sans gloves, as part of the BKFC 7 card in Biloxi, Mississippi on Saturday, August 10. Vallie-Flagg admits there was some reluctance to agree to a fist fight with a man he considers a friend, yet he knows he and his opponent both understand that it’s purely business.

Cole Shelton - July 30, 2019

Controversial fighter, Alexander Emelianenko is set to fight again. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has issued a contract to the Russian which he plans on signing in the coming days. His management, Gagarin Management Group confirmed the news to RT Sport.

Tom Taylor - July 15, 2019

Fresh off a bare-knuckle win over former boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi, UFC veteran Artem Lobov is now setting his sights on another star pugilist: Amir Khan. Lobov as expressed interest in this matchup previously, and is once again campaigning for it after his long-time coach John Kavanagh broached the possibility in a recent interview.

Tom Taylor - July 4, 2019

Former UFC strawweight and flyweight contender Bec Rawlings was one of the first fighters to make the jump to the surging sport of bare knuckle boxing. During her time as a bare knuckle fighter, which occurred under the BKFC banner, she picked up 3 impressive wins, and was hailed as the Queen of Bare Knuckle. While Rawlings has since returned to MMA roots, having recently signed with Bellator, she will soon be honored for her contributions to the sport of bare knuckle with an induction into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Hall of Fame.

Tom Taylor - July 3, 2019

Even from the early vantage point, BKFC 6 stood out as the biggest card yet from the upstart Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. The card, which was topped by a sizzling grudge match between UFC veteran Artem Lobov and former boxing champ Paulie Malignaggi, and featured a slew of UFC veterans and MMA notables, generated quite a bit of buzz throughout the combat sports world, and showed all the early signs of a major success for the promotion.

Tom Taylor - July 1, 2019

MMA stars Ben Askren and Chael Sonnen both had plenty to say about Paulie Malignaggi after the boxer lost a bare knuckle boxing match to Artem Lobov at BKFC 6. Last week, Malignaggi responded to these criticisms. 

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 26, 2019

Ben Askren has given his take on Artem Lobov’s victory over Paulie Malignaggi. Lobov vs. Malignaggi served as the main event of BKFC 6 inside the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa on June 22. Malignaggi was the slight favorite going into the bout, but he dropped a unanimous decision after five rounds of bare-knuckle boxing action. Many were surprised that Lobov scored the win given Malignaggi’s boxing experience.

Cole Shelton - June 24, 2019

Artem Lobov and Paulie Malignaggi finally settled their differences in the main event of BKFC 6. After months of trash talk, the two finally fought. It was a close fight, but when the scorecards were announced it was “The Russian Hammer” who got his hand raised as he beat Malignaggi by unanimous decision (48-47 x3). It was a massive win for the former UFC fighter, and a big win for his gym, SBG-Ireland. His coach, John Kavanagh said it was the best day of his life, as for his friend in Conor McGregor, well he had a different message for Lobov.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 24, 2019

Artem Lobov is done trading barbs with Paulie Malignaggi after their BKFC 6 scrap. This past Saturday night (June 22), Lobov and Malignaggi went the distance inside the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa. There was plenty of bad blood going into the bout. Malignaggi slapped Lobov and even spat on him in the lead-up to their BKFC 6 main event. Lobov ended up scoring the unanimous decision victory and the two embraced.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 24, 2019

Brendan Schaub doesn’t believe Artem Lobov vs. Paulie Malignaggi lived up to expectations, but it isn’t all doom and gloom. BKFC 6 took place inside the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa. Headlining the card was a grudge match between Lobov and Malignaggi. In the end, Lobov was awarded the unanimous decision victory.

Tom Taylor - June 24, 2019

Shortly after Artem Lobov defeated Paulie Malignaggi in the main event of BFKC 6 last weekend, Jason Knight gave his take on the fight. Knight, who came up short to Lobov in an all-out war earlier this year, doesn’t sound too impressed with what he saw — particularly from Malignaggi.

Tom Taylor - June 23, 2019

Artem Lobov and Paulie Malignaggi entered the BKFC 6 ring as two of the most heated rivals in combat sports. As is so often the case, however, the pair seem to have much more favorable views of each other after strafing one another for five rounds. Speaking at the BKFC 6 post-fight press conference, Lobov stated that he respects the former boxer Malignaggi for showing up to his infamous sparring session with Conor McGregor, and to this bare knuckle scrap.

Tom Taylor - June 23, 2019

Artem Lobov and Paulie Malignaggi, who met in the main event of BKFC 6 on Saturday night, seem to have found something they agree on: the officiating for the Tampa, Florida card left a lot to be desired. Speaking at the BKFC 6 post-fight press conference, Malignaggi sounded off on the ring-side judges, lambasting them for scoring the fight in Lobov’s favor.